Review by by Helen Gardiner van de Pol
As science communicators, we are always being asked to evaluate our activities and demonstrate impact. Teachers know this well. How do you know which part of what program helped form the adult you see before you today? That science outreach event you planned for 8-9-year-olds some 20 years ago, did it impact those children as intended? Did it contribute to their later decision to choose a career in science? Did it make them more scientifically literate even though they grew up to do art? If we interviewed them today, would they correctly recall your wonderful program and describe how it changed their life or would it just be part of a fog of memories which included fun trips to the museum with their favourite aunt who was a scientist?
Please support the major audio visual upgrade of our heritage listed Ellery Theatre so we can broadcast our events, forums and presentations in an engaging, interactive format to the broader Victorian community. We aim to raise $50,000 from our community of members and friends, with the additional $180,000 to be sourced from philanthropic trusts and foundations, corporate supporters and government partners. It is a large undertaking for the Society, which has not seen a substantial technical investment in its facilities for some decades.
SATURDAY, 22 APRIL, 2017. Many of our members have indicated their alarm at the recent tenor of domestic and global political debate and rhetoric, particularly where this foments uncertainty around the validity and integrity of scientists and the scientific process, apparently to suit ideological or commercial agendas before the interests of sound objective reasoning and evidence-based decision making.
This week’s interviews of short-listed applicants have revealed a compelling array of stories from around the world and, in particular, confirmed many of the project proposal’s underlying assumptions. The general level of science training, expertise and acumen was very good and, with science educators in short supply in our country, plainly an opportunity going to waste.
Our pilot program will assist four Victorian, science-qualified migrants to tell their migration story while developing a science show that is both engaging and suitable for Victorian schools. We will train you to deliver it, and then help market it to schools through Cultural Infusion’s Schools Program.
