Science matters, and society has leverage
Seven consortium partners making up a project management team (PMT) managed the 2WAYS project, which was initiated and coordinated by the European science events association, EUSCEA. Of the 100 EUSCEA member organisations, 30 formed pairs of partners. Each pair was tasked with selecting one recent peer-reviewed European science research project, developing it into a new science presentation and showcasing it, either at their science festivals or at special science events. They also organised so-called 'science parliaments' in both cities. Pupils aged between 16 and 20 discussed various controversial life sciences–related issues with a view to elaborating recommendations on how to deal with these in the future. An impact comparison study of each of the two festivals would enable partners to assess the impact of their presentations on the visitors, following an independent evaluator’s scientific appraisal of the collected data. 2WAYS partner pairs used new innovative communication formats to develop novel interactive science presentations targeting a lay audience, and set up a special debate format, the so-called 'science parliaments'. A grand final event was organised, hosted partly at the Brussels European Parliament with the 'Young Europeans Science Parliament' (YESP), and partly as a 'European Science Festival 2010' show at Brussels’ Royal Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences (RBINS). At the latter, a special jury for science communication voted for the best presentation. The most interesting presentations were highlighted, and the results of the scientifically based 'impact comparison study' were presented. The 2WAYS science communication activity engaged European citizens, especially youngsters, boosted networking among field players, and advanced methods for assessing the effectiveness of different models of science presentation. As such, project efforts increased awareness of current European research, and spurred dialogue on opportunities and threats of particular aspects of the life sciences. Science events across Europe now have the potential to form part of a larger movement promoting better public understanding of science. The overall 2WAY approach also promises to impact future career choices of young people and students, at the very least impressing on them that science matters.
