Final Report Summary - ESCIENTIAL - I.E. (European Science Festival: Itinerant Exhibitions)
The ESCIENTIAL IE project has been one of the most successful event of the last edition of Genoa Science Festival, with more than 32 500 visitors in 13 days. The media coverage of the Genoa Science Festival was outstanding: there were 250 accredited journalists, including representatives from the main national newspapers and international correspondents (among which were science and the spanish Redes TV). According to an initial and still partial survey, 650 newspaper articles were published before and during the event; more than 250 websites and online news followed the numerous scheduled events. Thirty television networks (international, national, satellite and local), along with 30 radio stations, followed the festival of science. The festival press office sent out 56 press releases, covering the main events (the European science festival ESCIENTIAL IE was the most successful one in terms of public) in the programme. The major Italian national media - RAI, Mediaset and La7 - gave special attention to the fourth edition of the festival of science, giving it special coverage, for example, in several TV reports, and especially in the main evening news of Tg1, Tg2, Tg3 and Tg7, and also in Studio Aperto, Uno Mattina, and Buon pomeriggio by Maurizio Costanzo. It is important to underline that the Italian Ministry of Research, Fabio Mussi, has been the special guest of all the ESCIENTIAL IE exhibition during the opening day of the Genoa science festival, followed by the major Italian national media. The other goal of the ESCIENTIAL IE project was contribution to the organisation of the European Academy for Science Explainers (EASE). The main initiative inside EASE has been the second edition of the international workshop on science communication, called FSE (the first festival school for students as science and society explainers of excellence), hold in Genoa before the science festival, from 18 October to 7 November 2006 (further information at the website http://www.ewase.infm.it online).
From a didactical point of view, the course followed the tradition frontal teaching method, although interactive activities were encouraged, it was felt that a use of more modern teaching methodology will be looked for in future editions. From the point of view of the content of the course, the students responded very well in their feedback results. It is strongly encouraged for future editions to increase the content percentage of practical activities against theoretical ones. Approximately 70 to 30 in favour of practical activities. Throughout the duration of the course, ex ante, in itinere, ex post, a qualified training expert was continuously present. Valuable feedback was obtained. In conclusion, the course was followed with great enthusiasm by all of the students, verified formally and informally. The course also covered a didactic area which appears to be rarely confronted, encouraging the course staff to guarantee continuity with the project.
From a didactical point of view, the course followed the tradition frontal teaching method, although interactive activities were encouraged, it was felt that a use of more modern teaching methodology will be looked for in future editions. From the point of view of the content of the course, the students responded very well in their feedback results. It is strongly encouraged for future editions to increase the content percentage of practical activities against theoretical ones. Approximately 70 to 30 in favour of practical activities. Throughout the duration of the course, ex ante, in itinere, ex post, a qualified training expert was continuously present. Valuable feedback was obtained. In conclusion, the course was followed with great enthusiasm by all of the students, verified formally and informally. The course also covered a didactic area which appears to be rarely confronted, encouraging the course staff to guarantee continuity with the project.
