HPSC2027EngagingthePublicwithScience
CourseSyllabus
2015-16session|DrCarinaFearnley|c.fearnley@ucl.ac.uk
Thismodulefocusesonthemanydifferentwaysinwhichpublicsengagewithscienceinface-to-face
contexts.Teachingwillparticularlyfocusonhowscientistscanmosteffectivelyengagemembersof
the public through direct interactions such as science festivals and museums, and on how specific
public groups, such as patient and citizen groups get involved, and engage with, scientific and
medical research. Alongside gaining a practical understanding of how to organize such activities,
students will also critically reflect on the theory and context that underpins such activities such as
models of publics and audiences, rationales for engagement in different contexts and the wider
policycontextsandhistoricaltrends.
Basiccourseinformation
MoodleWeb
site:
https://moodle.ucl.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=34447
Assessment:
Twopiecesofcoursework:
50%-Essay(3,000words)
50%-GroupProject(3,000wordsorequivalent)
Timetable:
https://timetable.ucl.ac.uk/tt/moduleTimet.do?firstReq=Y&moduleId=HPSC2027
Prerequisites:
Noprerequisites
Requiredtexts:
Seereadinglistbelowandtheonlinereadinglist.
Coursetutor(s):
Courseconvenor:DrCarinaFearnley
Contact:
c.fearnley@ucl.ac.uk
Web:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/staff/fearnley
Officelocation:
22GordonSquare,Room1.2a
Fearnleyoffice
hours:
Tuesdays13:00-15:00
HPSC2027EngagingthePublicwithScience
2015-16DrCarinaFearnley,c.fearnley@ucl.ac.uk
Schedule
UCL Lecture/
Week Seminar
LectureDate
LectureTopic
Activity
Seminar:Experiencesof
sciencecommunication.
21
1
13/01/16
Engagingwithscience
throughtheages:why
engage?
22
2
20/01/16
Thepoliticallandscape:framingofengagement.
LectureandseminargivenbyDrJackStilgoe.
23
3
27/01/16
Thescientificlandscape:the
roleofthescientist
Casestudy:Volcanic
warningsystems.
24
4
3/02/16
TheCitizen’sscience:
approachesadopted
GuestlecturebySir
RolandJackson:
Sciencewise,andthe
BritishScience
Association.
25
5
10/02/16
Whoaretheexperts:
uncertainandriskyscience
andtheroleofbusiness
Seminar:Climate
changeontrial.
Outline:Introduction
togroupprojectsand
casestudy
26
17/02/16
ReadingWeek
27
6
24/02/16
Whoarethepublicanyway
andhowdoweknowthereis
engagement?
Guestlectureby
ScienceGrrlFounder
DrEllieCosgrave
DeadlineforEssay26/02/16
28
7
02/03/16
Outlineofthecasestudy:
background
GuestLecturebyDr
SteveCross–public
engagementin
practice
29
8
09/03/16
CaseStudyvisit&presentations
30
9
16/03/16
Grassrootsscience:the
organicactivist
Seminar:‘FrackOff’:
investigatingfracking
32
10
23/03/16
Grouppresentations
Discussionandfeedback
DeadlineforReport24/03/16
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HPSC2027EngagingthePublicwithScience
2015-16DrCarinaFearnley,c.fearnley@ucl.ac.uk
Assessments
Description
Deadline
Wordlimit
11.59pm26/02/16
3000Words
50%
Essay
50%
GroupProject
1) Group
presentation 11.59pm24/03/16
2) Groupproject
1)Approx.7minutesper
person
2)Totalwordcountof3,500
words(approx.1000per
person)
Coursework
Assessment1:Essay(50%)
Writeascholarlyessay,ofnomorethan3000words,discussingthemovementfromthePUStoPESTwith
referencetoaspecificcasestudy/subjectofyourchoice.Theaimoftheessayistohighlighttheevolution
and relevance of public engagement, and the various forms in which it takes place, whilst considering the
varyingeffectivenessofapproachestomoredeliberativedemocracyandpolicydevelopment.
Assessment2:Groupengagementpiece(50%)
Thisassignmentusesaninstitutionasacasestudyofpublicengagementactivitiestoexploretheevolution
of public engagement activities over time, the activities conducted, and to evaluate how successful their
publicengagementprogramis.Thiswilltakeforminthreedifferentsessions:
§ Inthefirstsession,groupswillpresentfindingsrelatingtothecasestudyanditsbackgroundcontext
§ Thesecondwillinvolveavisittotheinstitutionandincludetheopportunitytodiscusswithstaffandthe
publictoevaluatetheimpactoftheprogram.
§ The third session will involve a marked group presentation outlining your main findings and critiques
(40%ofthemark),andareport(60%)tobesubmittedthatoutlinesyourparticularresearch,analysis,
critique,andrecommendations.
Criteriaforassessment
ThedepartmentalmarkingguidelinesforindividualitemsofassessmentcanbefoundintheSTSStudent
Handbook.
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HPSC2027EngagingthePublicwithScience
2015-16DrCarinaFearnley,c.fearnley@ucl.ac.uk
Aims&Objectives
Aims
This course aims to engage students with the theory and practice of engaging the public with science via
face-to-faceactivitiesinmultiplepubliccontexts.
LearningOutcomes
Onsuccessfulcompletionofthiscoursestudentsshouldbeableto:
1. Demonstrateapracticalunderstandingofface-to-faceengagementwithscienceactivitiesinarange
ofpubliccontexts
2. Offeranalysisofthetheoreticalunderpinningsofpracticalactivityinthisarea.
3. Understandthehistoricalandpolicycontextwithinwhichpublicengagementhasdeveloped
4. Evaluatetheeffectivenessofpublicengagementprocessesinparticularsocialcontexts
5. Reflectonthepurpose,relevanceandeffectivenessofpublicengagementviaface-to-faceactivities.
Inadditionbytheendofthecourse,studentsshouldbeableto:
1. DemonstrateresearchskillsappropriatetoYear2STSmodules
2. Demonstratetimeandprojectmanagement,workingtotightdeadlines
3. Demonstrateindependenceandinitiativeinprojectwork
ReadingList
Corereadingsinclude:
Bennett,D.J.andJennings,R.C.eds.,2011.SuccessfulScienceCommunication:TellingItLikeItIs.Cambridge
UniversityPress.
Gregory,J.andMiller,S.,2000.Scienceinpublic.BasicBooks.
Holliman,R.,Whitelegg,L.,Scanlon,E.,Smidt,S.andThomas,J.,2009.Investigatingsciencecommunication
intheinformationage:Implicationsforpublicengagementandpopularmedia.OxfordUniversityPress.
Irwin,A.,1995.Citizenscience:Astudyofpeople,expertiseandsustainabledevelopment.PsychologyPress.
PublicUnderstandingofScience,Specialissue.Seehttp://pus.sagepub.com/content/23/1.toc
Stilgoe,J.,Lock,S.J.andWilsdon,J.,2014.Whyshouldwepromotepublicengagementwithscience?.Public
UnderstandingofScience,23(1),pp.4-15.
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HPSC2027EngagingthePublicwithScience
2015-16DrCarinaFearnley,c.fearnley@ucl.ac.uk
Otherbooksofinterest:
Bauer,M.W.andBucchi,M.eds.,2008.Journalism,scienceandsociety:Sciencecommunicationbetween
newsandpublicrelations.Routledge.
Brake,M.L.andWeitkamp,E.eds.,2009.Introducingsciencecommunication:Apracticalguide.Palgrave
Macmillan
Cheng,D.,Claessens,M.,Gascoigne,T.,Metcalfe,J.,Schiele,B.andShi,S.,2008.Communicatingsciencein
socialcontexts.NewModels,newPractices(Berlin,2008).
Gilbert,J.K.,Lewenstein,B.V.andStocklmayer,S.M.,2013.CommunicationandEngagementwithScience
andTechnology:IssuesandDilemmas:aReaderinScienceCommunication.Routledge.
Holliman,R.,Thomas,J.,Smidt,S.,Scanlon,E.andWhitelegg,L.,2009.Practisingsciencecommunicationin
theinformationage:Theorisingprofessionalpractices.OxfordUniversityPress.
Essentialandotherreadings:
AllessentialreadingswillbelistedonandavailableviaMoodle,unlessspecified.Furtherdetailsonreadings
forthemoduleandassessmentswillbepostedonMoodle.
You are encouraged to start your own research to find readings and sources that relate to the module
materials, and to take a general interest in key public engagement debates, controversies, and
breakthroughsthroughoutthemodule.Herearesomeusefulsourcestostartwith:
OnlineJournals:
PublicUnderstandingofScience:http://pus.sagepub.com
Science,technology&humanvalues:http://sth.sagepub.com
ScienceCommunication:http://scx.sagepub.com
JournalofScienceCommunicationhttp://jcom.sissa.it
Usefulwebsites:
§ Sciencewise:http://www.sciencewise-erc.org.uk
§ Zoomiverse:https://www.zooniverse.org
§ Beacons for Public Engagement: http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/work-with-us/completedprojects/beacons
§ BritishScienceAssociation:http://www.britishscienceassociation.org
§ ScienceGrrl:http://sciencegrrl.co.uk
§ TheUCLPublicEngagementUnit:https://www.ucl.ac.uk/public-engagement
§ NationalCo-coordinatingCentreforPublicEngagement:http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/explore-it
§ UCLPublicandCulturalEngagement(PACE):http://www.ucl.ac.uk/pace
§ Wellcometrust:http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/funding/public-engagement
§ RCUKPublicEngagement:http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/pe/
§ CenterforPublicEngagementwithScience&Technology:http://www.aaas.org/pes
§ TheRoyalInstitution:http://www.rigb.org/about/mission-and-vision
§ TheTimesCheltenhamScienceFestival:http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/science
§ ThinkLab:http://www.think-lab-web.co.uk
§ Newton’sApple:http://www.newtons-apple.org.uk
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HPSC2027EngagingthePublicwithScience
2015-16DrCarinaFearnley,c.fearnley@ucl.ac.uk
Donotforgettoreadandfollowrelevantblogs,newsstories,andtwitterfeedsofrelevantinstitutionsand
scientificfiguresinthepublicdomain(suchasBrianCoxandUCL’sownHannahFry),andrelevantTVand
Radioprogrammes.
Outlineoflectures:
Thissectionprovidesadditionaldetailsofthematerialsaddressedeachweek.
1. Engagingwithsciencethroughtheages:whyengage?
Lecture:Anintroductorylectureprovidinganoverviewofwhatpublicengagementis,andwhyshould
we do it. The evolution of mediating and communicating science is examined including the public
understanding of science (PUS), to Public Engagement in/with Science and Technology (PEST), to
science democracy, outlining various models and programmes used to frame the process of public
engagement.
Seminar:Experiencesofsciencecommunication.
EssentialReading
Lock,S.J.,2011.Deficitsanddialogues:sciencecommunicationandpublicunderstandingofscienceintheUK
inBennett,D.J.andJennings,R.C.,2011.Successfulsciencecommunication.CambridgeUniversityPress,pp.
17-30
Wynne,B.,2006.Publicengagementasameansofrestoringpublictrustinscience–hittingthenotes,but
missingthemusic?.PublicHealthGenomics,9(3),pp.211-220.
2. Thepoliticallandscape:framingofengagement(JackStilgoe)
LectureandseminarbyDrJackStilgoe:Whatistheroleofpoliticsinpublicengagement,andwhatis
the dialogue and agenda involved? This lecture explores the framing of upstream engagement, and
D/dialogue, along with the tools used in developing policy and the problems of representation. This
sessionfocusesontheroleofcollaborationinpublicengagement.
EssentialReading
Stilgoe,J.,Lock,S.J.andWilsdon,J.,2014.Whyshouldwepromotepublicengagementwithscience?.Public
UnderstandingofScience,23(1),pp.4-15.
Wilsdon, J. and Willis, R., 2004. See-through science: why public engagement needs to move upstream.
Demos.
3. Thescientificlandscape:theroleofthescientist
Lecture:Whatistheroleofthescientistinpublicengagement?Howisexpertknowledgeusedand
integratedbyscientists.?Wealsoexplorethedynamicsbetweenpublicengagementandeducation,
someofthemainenvironmentswherescientistsengageatScienceFestivals,andtheroleofpublic
engagementinacademia.Thissessionfocusedontheroleoftransitioninpublicengagement.
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HPSC2027EngagingthePublicwithScience
2015-16DrCarinaFearnley,c.fearnley@ucl.ac.uk
Casestudy:Usingvolcanoearlywarningsystems,CarinaFearnleywilloutlinetheroleofthescientist,
andtheneedtoconnectthescientistwiththeendusertodevelopeffectiveearlywarningsfocused
aroundonthecasestudiesfromtheUnitedStatesandIceland.
EssentialReading
Fearnley,C.J.,2013.Assigningavolcanoalertlevel:negotiatinguncertainty,risk,andcomplexityindecisionmakingprocesses.EnvironPlannA,45(8),pp.1891-1911.
Buckley,N.,andHordijenko,S.,SciencefestivalsinBennett,D.J.andJennings,R.C.,2011.Successfulscience
communication.CambridgeUniversityPress,pp.17-30.
Riise,J.,2008.Bringingsciencetothepublic.InCommunicatingScienceinSocialContexts(pp.301-309).
SpringerNetherlands.
4. TheCitizen’sscience:approachesadopted
Lecture:Citizensareatthecoreofcontemporarypublicengagement.Inthislectureweexaminethe
variousapproachesusedinwhichthepublicareinvolvedinthedevelopmentofcontemporary
engagementandpolicy.Thisrangesfromcitizensjuries,toconsensusconferences,topatient
engagement,tocitizenscienceinthetraditionalsense(e.g.Zooniverse),rightthroughtohowthe
publicgettheirvoiceintopolicyanddecision-makingissuesinvolvingscienceandtechnology(e.g.
Sciencewise).Therefore,thislectureprovidesanoverviewofthevariousapproaches,bothtop-down,
andbottom-upthatacitizencanbeengagedinscienceandtechnology.Thissessionisfocusedonthe
roleofreceivinginpublicengagement.
Guestlecture:GivenbySirRolandJackson,ExecutiveChairofSciencewise,andapriorCEOofthe
BritishScienceAssociation.SirJacksonwilldiscusshisrichpracticalexperienceintheuseandvalueof
publicdialogueasanintegralpartofpolicyinvolvingscienceandtechnology.
EssentialReading
Bonney,R.,Phillips,T.B.,Ballard,H.L.andEnck,J.W.,2015.Cancitizenscienceenhancepublicunderstanding
ofscience?.PublicUnderstandingofScience,p.0963662515607406.
Jasanoff,S.,2004.Scienceandcitizenship:anewsynergy.Scienceandpublicpolicy,31(2),pp.90-94.
Stilgoe,J.,2009.CitizenScientists:reconnectingsciencewithcivilsociety.London:Demos.
Halkier,B.,2015.Mundanescienceuseinapracticetheoreticalperspective:Differentunderstandingsofthe
relationsbetweencitizen-consumersandpubliccommunicationinitiativesbuildonscientific claims.Public
UnderstandingofScience,p.0963662515596314.
5. Whoaretheexperts:uncertainandriskyscienceandtheroleofbusiness
Seminar:Weexplorethetheoriesbehindwhotheexpertis,howthiscanbequalified,alongwithhow
expertiseischallengedinthecontextsofbusiness/commercialactivitiesandthelaw.Environmental
sciencesareusedtoexemplifythechallengesofuncertainandriskysciencewhenengagingthepublic,
government,andbusinesssectorwithscience.
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HPSC2027EngagingthePublicwithScience
2015-16DrCarinaFearnley,c.fearnley@ucl.ac.uk
Activity:
Climatechangeontrial:adebateontheroleofexpertswithinthecontroversialtopicofglobal
warming
Outlineofthecasestudyandgroupprojectsforthecourse.
EssentialReading
Revkin,A.C.,TacklingtheclimatecommunicationchallengeinBennett,D.J.andJennings,R.C.,2011.
Successfulsciencecommunication.CambridgeUniversityPress,pp.137-150
Nowotny,H.,2014.Engagingwiththepoliticalimaginariesofscience:Nearmissesandfuturetargets.Public
UnderstandingofScience,23(1),pp.16-20.
Gregory,J.,Agar,J.,Lock,S.andHarris,S.,2007.Publicengagementofscienceintheprivatesector:anew
formofPR?.Journalism,ScienceandSociety:ScienceCommunicationBetweenNewsandPublicRelations,
563409322,pp.203-213.
6. Whoarethepublicanywayandhowdoweknowthereisengagement?
Lecture:Thislectureexploreswhothepublicreallyare.Whatistheroleofthelayexpert,howinclusive
orexclusiveisthepublicinpublicengagement.Thescaleofthe‘public’isexamined,fromlocaltothe
nationallevel,andthegrowingroleofsocialmediausedinpublicengagementactivities.Anumberof
casestudiessuchasSoapboxscienceareexploredasnewandoldmethodsofengagingdirectlytothe
public
Guestlecture:ScienceGrrlFounderDrEllieCosgravewilldiscussthemotives,actions,andevaluationsofthe
engagementinvolvedinthispublicfocusedproject.
Takeareadof:report“ThroughBothEyes:thecaseforaGenderlensinSTEM“,byDrAnnaZecharia,DrEllie
Cosgrave,ProfessorLizThomasandDrRobJones,waspublishedon31stMarch2014.
http://sciencegrrl.co.uk/assets/SCIENCE-GRRL-Stem-Report_FINAL_WEBLINKS-1.pdf
EssentialReading
Birch,H.,ThesocialwebinsciencecommunicationinBennett,D.J.andJennings,R.C.,2011.Successful
sciencecommunication.CambridgeUniversityPresspp.280-293
Burgess,J.,Stirling,A.,Clark,J.,Davies,G.,Eames,M.,Staley,K.andWilliamson,S.,2007.Deliberative
mapping:anovelanalytic-deliberativemethodologytosupportcontestedscience-policydecisions.Public
UnderstandingofScience,16(3),pp.299-322.
Gaskell,G.,Stares,S.,andKronberger,N.,Thepublic'sviewofscienceinBennett,D.J.andJennings,R.C.,
2011.Successfulsciencecommunication.CambridgeUniversityPress,pp.60-76
Gregory,J.andMiller,S.,2000.Scienceinpublic.BasicBooks.pp81-103
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HPSC2027EngagingthePublicwithScience
2015-16DrCarinaFearnley,c.fearnley@ucl.ac.uk
7. Outlineofthecasestudyandbackground
Seminar:Studentstopresentbackgroundinformationoncasestudy,anddiscuss.Bringingtogether
practice/theory/academic/criticalperspectives&evaluationofpublicengagement.
Guestlecture:DrSteveCrosswillprovideanbothaninstitutionalandpracticebasedperspectiveto
workinginpublicengagementbasedonhisdiverseexperienceasHeadofPublicEngagementat
UniversityCollegeLondonand,in2009,founderofBrightClubandScienceShowoff.Steveiscurrentlya
WellcomeTrustEngagementFellow.
EssentialReading
Durant,J.,Evans,G.andThomas,G.,1992.PublicunderstandingofscienceinBritain:theroleofmedicinein
thepopularrepresentationofscience.PublicUnderstandingofscience,1(2),pp.161-182.
Grant,L.,Evaluatingsuccess:howtofindoutwhatworked(andwhatdidn't)inBennett,D.J.andJennings,
R.C.,2011.Successfulsciencecommunication.CambridgeUniversityPress,pp.403-422
Davies,S.R.,2013.Constitutingpublicengagement:MeaningsandgenealogiesofPESTintwoUKstudies.
ScienceCommunication,p.1075547013478203.
8. Casestudyvisitandpresentations(offcampus)
Visittocasestudyandpresentationsmadebystaffthere,opportunitytoreviewthecasestudy,and
evaluateit.
NoEssentialReading
9. Grassrootsscience:theorganicactivist
Lecture:Thelayexpert,theactivistcanleadtomovementsinpublicengagement,toshapepolicyor
practice.Thisorganicformofpublicengagementcanbeseeninthemakermovement,andthe
democratisationoftechnology,alongwiththedrivebehindclimatechangecampaignes,suchasthose
triggeredbyGreenpeace.
Seminar:‘FrackOff’,aseminarinvestigatingfrackingandthegrassrootsmovementbehindthiscontroversial
energysources.ThisseminarwillmakeuseofthedocumentaryGaslands.
EssentialReading
PleasewatchGasland–afilmbyJoshFox:seehttp://one.gaslandthemovie.com/home
Hansen,T.B.,2005.Grassrootsscience—AnISYPideal.ISYPJournalonScienceandWorldAffairs,1(1),pp.6172.
Seleti,Y.,2013.Thevalueofindigenousknowledgesystemsinthe21stcentury.Communicationand
EngagementwithScienceandTechnology:IssuesandDilemmas:aReaderinScienceCommunication,
pp.261-272.
Schenkelaars.P.,Relationswithenvironmentalorganisations:averypersonalstoryinBennett,D.J.and
Jennings,R.C.,2011.Successfulsciencecommunication.CambridgeUniversityPress,pp.204-220
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HPSC2027EngagingthePublicwithScience
2015-16DrCarinaFearnley,c.fearnley@ucl.ac.uk
10. Grouppresentations
Thissessionwillcompriseofallthegrouppresentationsofthegroupsfindings.Itishopedthat
membersofthecasestudyinstitutionwillbeabletoattendandtakeonboardyourcommentsand
providefeedback.Itishopedtherewillbesometimeattheendtohaveadiscussionbasedonthe
presentationsandfeedbackfromattendees,andothergroupmembers.
NoEssentialReading
Importantpolicyinformation
Details of college and departmental policies relating to modules and assessments can be found in the STS
StudentHandbookwww.ucl.ac.uk/sts/handbook
AllstudentstakingmodulesintheSTSdepartmentareexpectedtoreadthesepolicies.
10