CASC

Representatives from the University of Bucharest visited colleagues from the University of Lyon to find out how Science is communicated in France…

Dates of visit – 18-26 April 2010.

Delegation: Razvan Mihail Papuc and Paul Marinescu – University of Bucharest.

Establishments visited: Univerisy of Lyon, Sorbonne University, Cite de Science and Palais de la Découverte

The Palais de la Découverte

The Palais de la Découverte presents fundamental and contemporary science in a dynamic and interactive way.   There is a planetarium, biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics and earth sciences laboratories and the Electrostatics room and Sun room.

In the Acoustics room of the Palais de la Découverte we were presented a series of experiments and demonstrations in which investigated the phenomenons of sound, such as making sound, the speed of sound, structure of simple and complex sounds.

The Cite de la Science et de L’Industrie

The Cite de la Science et de L’Industrie site is a modern site offering a wide range of exhibitions and shows. The combination of experiments and experiences for all ages offers the possibility that heterogeneous groups can relate to assimilate and use scientific information.

There are playgrounds for children, The Grand Hall (hall for exhibitions and performances), the Parc de la Villette, the National Conservatory of Music and Dance, the Explora, the Argonaute, the Geod, the Planetarium and the Cinaxe are centers of interest for visitors of all ages and can make dissemination of scientific information by experts and through personal and group experiences.

Experience here has shown us that certain elements that we found can be emphasized in Bucharest in the framework of existing or specially designated areas.

Sorbonne University

Malesherbes, Clignancourt and Research House (the Maison de la Recherche) academic centers from the University of Paris Sorbonne 4 are essential benchmarks for the analysis of scientific information dissemination projects. Important components of Paris – Sorbonne is located in Maison de la Recherche: Doctoral Studies Service, Research Services, plus six doctoral schools part of Doctoral School of Geography (history, literature, civilization, culture, art, archeology and geography) are entities that release information involving doctoral students, researchers and teachers.

We found that the dissemination of scientific information is done in: libraries, laboratories, companies, museums, universities and research centers.

In Paris there are many monuments that facilitate the dissemination of scientific information. The Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Palace of Versailles, the Louvre pyramid, the Pantheon and the L’Hôtel national des Invalide are some landmarks that are permanently disseminating scientific information.

The visit to Paris has shown us that events can be achieved when there is enough reason to put the value of existing resources and objectives are clearly defined. I noticed how important that project teams expertise team members is essential. Financial resources are essential but very important is to organize project teams.  Multiculturalism is a resource that is able to prevent potential tensions that may lead to conflicts.

University of Lyon

Our journey continued with a visit to the University of Lyon. Here we noticed how important partnerships between universities are. We noted consistent partnerships between universities of Lyon, Saint – Etienne and Grenoble. These universities are part of the Rhone-Alps Region. Partnerships between universities define optimal resource usage possibilities and thus may contribute to increasing dissemination of scientific information. At the Lyon University we noticed the quality of research centers that are implied in important projects for the dissemination of scientific information.

The Department  Science et Société  – CCSTI du Rhône show in many large activities how the scientific, tehnical and industrial culture can be revealed to the large public.

The main objective of the Centre is to facilitate the meetings between the members of scientific community and between them and other categories of „public” in order to create a stable network in science dissemination.  Actions like: Fête de la Science,  Nuit des chercheurs, Camion des sciences, Faites tourner la science etc. are very good exemples of good practices in science dissemination.

Some details are essential to define the value of University Claude Bernard – Lyon1:

• It is the Fourth French university
• First university for health science
• More than 250 national diplomas
• 12% of 125 Students of Foreign Nationalities
• Budget of one million euros to 350
• 23 geographical sites
• 5000 employees
• Component research is impressive:
  • 84 research units
  • Three research priorities – Health, Environment and Materials, six research clusters

Students are involved in various projects and programs. In this way the scientific information dissemination becomes a mean through which people of different ages can be part of a permanent training program for the inhabitants of the Rhone Alps region.

Earth science, Sports  science, chemistry biochemistry, medicine, Pharmacy Paramedicine Odontology, Mathematics Actuarial science, computer science, Physics Astronomy, Engineering Technology, Teacher training are few directions by which the Lyon University  can react to the challenges of the actual era. The 35000 students at the Lyon University are an essential part of the scientific information dissemination.

The University is committed to more than 80 European Union projects and participates actively in The Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological development (FP7).

From Inventions To market, Lyon Science Transfer leads the process (Invention, Diagnosis, Industrial property, Proof of concept & Prototype, Promotion & Prospecting, Licensing & Transfer, Market).

The Lyon Library in opened for the general public offering facilities for accessing information.  Lyon University’s students can subscribe to the documentation portals of all the universities in the Rhones region

Information dissemination also takes place at Herbiers. This is situated in the second campus having over 4 mil species. The Herbiers directory showed us the Roland Bonaparte, Georges Rouy,  Michel Gandoger collections. These collections are at the command of scientists from all over the world, being under the supervision of the director and 2 curators.

The Merieux Institute has a special place within the Lyon research system. This institute has become an important part of the microbiology and vaccine’s industry world wide. All these academic research centers have simulators in which students can understand the evolution of various phenomena and the implications of the scientific dissemination in society development. The institute offers the general public the possibility to participate in simulations through which the informational and technological flows can be visualized.

These differentiated shows offer the possibility for accessing the science and technological information contributing to the peoples education and encouraging them to have initiative in the scientific information dissemination. The visit has strengthened the belief that institution initiatives are essential for educating the public regarding the advantages of accessing and using the scientific information. There’s no doubt individual scientific information dissemination actions are important, but without gathering all the energies by the specialized institutions this effort will only bring partial results.

Analyzing the activity performed by universities, museums, research institutes, libraries, ONGs in Paris and Lyon we found that besides the value of initiative of each institution there also exists the initiative of the State institutions that regulates and encourages such activities.

The Lyon learning network (one of the most developed in the world) includes: several universities, research institutes, museums, associations, companies. The partnerships between these socio-economical entities are remarkable in encouraging the training of all social categories. These collaborations can offer a large variety of training areas for the public ranging from training specialists to an informational offer for the public interested only in disseminating the information for the purpose of  giving a general image about a field or another.

The transmission of data, documents and results of the practical experiences and activities, the cooperation in promoting this information are some of the objectives of the French institutions in charge with the dissemination of the scientific information.

The FP7 project can foreshadow the closing of protocols between the institutions involved in the project that can foreshadow an international scientific information dissemination network. Thus there could convey not only scientific information but also experiences so very useful in educating the population.

Museuos Cientificos Coruneses (the Science Museums of La Corunna, Spain) visited Universeum, Sweden’s largest Science Museum.  Photos of the visit can be seen at http://connect.eucasc.eu/study-visit-mc2-universeum

Universeum, the aims

“Everything is related to everything and everything matters”

This is the basic approach of Universeum, which defines both its exhibition project as its program of activities. Moreover, its basic aims are:

– Awake careers in science and technology in young people.

– Address the various manifestations of technology in exhibitions and activities.

– Emphasize the relationship with the environment and promote sustainable development.

– Develop an educational platform.

– Encouraging the use of the five senses in the different experiences of the museum.

– Relate what you already know and what you are learning.

– Asking questions forever.

– Continuing to offer the public the experiences that make them know themselves better.

Universeum, the building

It is the largest science center in Sweden. It has seven floors that show from tropical forest to a large aquarium with sharks, a room to know your sports skills and another to explore the outer space.

The visitor goes from an exhibition to another in a very handy way, focusing on the idea that everything relates to everything. The size of the building is very adequate on a human scale, so that the visitor does not feel lost in a complex network of rooms.

The museum opened in 2001 and is located next to a theme park, which has a positive influence on the number of visitors.

Institutional Relations

Universeum collaborates in an active way with the City Council, the University and the Chamber of Industry and Commerce. It also promotes relations with the public and private sector.

The exhibition proposals

“Discover the ocean, rain forest and outer space on the same day”

This is the invitation that Universeum makes museum visitors.

The exhibits are highly interactive. They can be manipulated in an intuitive way, which facilitates the interaction. The technology is at the service of experiences that visitors can not easily find elsewhere.

The texts that accompany each exhibit are short and direct style. They are written in Swedish and English.

There are not many computers directly exposed to the public. By contrast, computers are not visible but software provides a variety of interactive experiences.

The visitors come from across the country, since it is the largest science center in Sweden.

Aquarius

“Take a look below the surface and discover the different species of anemone fish swimming with sharks at the aquarium ocean.”

A considerable part of the museum is dedicated to the ocean. The visitor can find a tank with rays, a number of aquariums showing the North Sea and a large ocean tank with sharks, rays, corals and hundreds of fish.

The tanks are freshwater, saltwater and brackish water. The temperature is adjustable. Is a closed circuit system.

They have a quarantine and a veterinarian clinic that deals with the health of living beings.

Swedish laws are very strict for keeping animals in captivity, so that the care of this part of the museum is very demanding.

The Way of Water

“Learn more about our own glaciers and mountain regions in the Way of Water”

This area propose to visit a living model of the Swedish landscape, running from north to south, and highlighting their relationship with water. Among the species that can be observed are snakes, frogs, birds and fish.

Rain forest

“Meet Arriba and his family in the rain forest. He is a Goeldi’s marmoset that, among other things, is very good climbing and jumping. Although only measures 25 cm tall, can jump up to eight meters from one tree to another.”

This impressive wing of the museum is a living model of the rain forests of South America, with monkeys, poison frogs, birds and butterflies that can live in freedom. There are also crocodiles, anacondas and alligators.

You get an immersive experience in which we must mention the effort to ensure that all elements are real. Hence, all the vegetation is natural and the feeling of high humidity can be experienced.

Planetario

It is a room with capacity for 30 people.

Audiovisual programs are designed for Universeum´s technical staff and adapted to give a lecture to groups of students at different levels.

Kaleido: outer space

“Come and learn more about the sun, our own planet and black holes.”

It offers visitors an space  adventure between stars, planets and the international space station.

Featured interactive exhibits

– Infra-red camera in which the visitor can see the variations of temperature in different parts of his body. It can use a sheet of methacrylate to cover your own heat.

– Model of the ISS to real scale.

– Magic Planet: ball changing its surface to reflect the surface of the solar system planets.

– Room to performance as the weather man. The visitor record himself giving a weather report; then he can see his  report on the television.

– Interactive floor displayed fish swimming; if you step on it, they escape swimming at high speed.

Crime Lab Expo

Is an exhibition of recent opening. These are some of his proposals:

– Center for fingerprint identification.

– Discover what is false.

– Experiment with the lie detector.

– Face recognition to access a place.

– Investigate the source of plastic bags.

– Voice recognition.

– Camera with infra-red beams to walk without touching them. Outside visitors can see the whole scene in infrared.

Explore

“Test your athletic skills”

Room to test your own physical abilities. These are some of the interactive proposals,

– Climbing wall.

– Screen that displays the image of the visitor as handball player. He plays to try to get a goal or stop the ball.

– Horse riding simulator. It is a model scale horse to ride different modes: walk, trot, canter. Visitors can stop the horse with the pull of the reins.

– Athletics track to run a career and recording time.

“Care for the Road”

Room dedicated to road safety education, with modules such as:

– Cab of a truck to which the visitor can access.

– Police Car. Visitors can also go inside.

– Shock Test: Simulates a collision at different speeds.

– Interactive crane to move objects.

– Exhibit for measuring your reaction time when you drive.

Activity program

Universeum has an extensive daily program of activities that are called every thirty minutes. There is a wide diversity of topics: mathematics, environment, astronomy, evolution, forensics, … In general they are related to the museum’s contents.

Schools usually prefer a visit that also includes an educational activity. This activity is included in the price of admission.

The museum believes there is a low season and a high season, which means increased the staff to attend the visitors.

There is a proposal to turn the museum into a classroom. Schools can subscribe for one school year to take this service.

The Centre of Administration and Operations of the ASCR, v. v. i. and the South Moravian Centre for International Mobility visited Universeum, Scandanavia’s biggest science museum to learn about activities within the Science Museum – mostly in the field of science popularization, cooperation with schools, providing services to schools and teachers and working with broad population.  Here is what they learnt:

Target group of Universeum: Universeum is targeting a wide variety of visitors: the main group comprises of families with children, others are the general public, school groups, teachers, and others.

Types of activities we have done and seen during the visit:

1)     museum exhibits

2)     presentations of learners and guides

3)     introduction to the public programs

4)     visit of the Aquarium and Rain Forest

5)     visit to the music recording room

6)     meeting with the management representatives (CEO, Scientific Director) and discussion about science communication, popularization, scientific programmes for students, funding and cost plus, managing of science museums, discussion about Swedish education system and science and research field.

7)     Introduction of the project EUSO (European Union Science Olympiad) and discussion about with organizer – Minna Panas.

Observations we have made?

Universeum – science museum is highly professionally managed. Universeum is funded by two universities of Gothenburg – Technical University and Gothenburg University, Swedish industries in Gothenburg and government. Organization of the management within opening times, shop and other services are easy accessible. Fee for target groups is also reasonable priced. There is plenty of the enthusiastic employees everywhere in-between exhibits and especially by the entrance. They are happy to give guided tour to the smaller groups of visitors. There is also program for high school students who can come to work in science museum as guides for young children. They can also write report about some scientific topic and cooperate with theirs teachers. High school teachers are also target group. Teachers can come to Universeum and learn how to do experiments which can be showed back at schools. The exhibitions are divided between two basic fields – nature sciences (Aquarium, Rain Forest, Exposition about Sweden – Water way) and technical sciences (Exhibits Explora, Krimlab, Kaleido).

All exhibits are made to be used instinctively; instructions and explanations are usually bilingual (English and Swedish). One third of exhibits is changed every year. Exhibitions are thought up by the scientific and management teams. Universeum cooperates with university professors, researchers, businessman and managers of industries in Gothenburg (VOLVO, SAAB, AstraZeneca etc.).

Exhibitions of Universeum are very interesting and very well promoted maybe that is why Universeum is most visited science centre in Sweden.

Benefits of the study visit

The biggest benefit for us was the possibility of consultation various types of the science popularization, cooperation with schools, providing services to schools and teachers and working with broad population. Due this experience we can think about preparing new ways of our nowadays activities and think about new types of activities of science communication and popularization. Study visit in Universeum was really beneficial to us, we could see well-run science museum, to get know financial and managing conditions which we can use for the further new science museums and science learning centres which are built now in Czech Republic. One of the inspirations represents the cooperation with high schools – working for museum is very popular amongst the students. Another very beneficial experience is knowledge how to co-operate with universities and academic professors.

The visit was a great and very beneficial opportunity for introducing both organisations and as we hope, will be successful beginning for the future partnership in new projects and activities.

Date of the study visit: from 6th May 2010 till 9th May 2010

Participants: Vladislava Pospíšilová and Michaela Žaludová (Centre of Administration and Operations of the ASCR, v. v. i.), Dana Bekker Vejborná and Jitka Šeneklová (South Moravian Centre for International Mobility)

The ‘Agora project’ is working to establish Hungary’s first Science Museum.  Here is what they learnt from visiting Universeum, Sweden’s largest Science Museum.

Overall aim of the study visit: to exchange good practices between AGORA coordinators and the Swedish Science Museum Universeum in the subject of operational and management issues of a Science Museum in order to help the launch of Agora Project.

AGORA Project is aiming the: „Formation of Science Theme Park in the Botanical Garden of the University of Debrecen” and will build a Scientific Theme Park.

Results of the study visit:

During the study visit we had an opportunity to introduce the Agora project to the management of Universeum, and got insight into the daily workings of Sweden’s largest Science Museum. During the visit a lot of useful advice was given to the coordinators of AGORA, with a special focus on how much work is the construction and daily operation of Science Museum.

During the meeting, we highlighted the need of the wide range sponsorship, the well-established management structure and the definition of the relevant function.

Special attention was paid to the development of thematic exhibitions, the lifecycle of the exhibitions, which basically determines the long-term success. We were discussed about the Pricing Policy, especially the discounts and promotions. This information will get strategic importance, after the definition of the target group of AGORA.

The key priority of AGORA is the Public Engagement in Science. The long-term objectives are to link the AGORA activities to the University Education, and revise the possibility how to integrate it into the Credit System –based on the Swedish example.

After the meeting we had opportunity to look around in Universeum with the guidance of Sten Ljungstrom. He explained us how they plan a new exhibitions, and the organizing tasks. We experienced how important is to provide target group relevant activities for visitors, how indispensable is the right scientific and technical content. The entertainment function was also emphasised, because the science and fun duplex brings the expected success.

Overall, useful experiences and information were added to the coordinator team of AGORA, so the CASC has also contributed to the launch of the Science Theme Park Debrecen- Hungary’s first Science Museum.

What Birmingham’s Thinktank learnt from Science Museums in la Corunna:

Report prepared by Zeeshaan Dinally, Planetarium Presenter at Thinktank

The Science Museums of Corunna (=mc²) are an institution developed by Corunna City council. The goal of the three science museums is to “popularize science to everyone”, including local citizens, by means of making links to science in the local culture. There are many resources available to visitors, whom upon entering any of the science centres, are immersed in a multitude of different exhibits (both permanent and temporary). In helping visitors understand the world we live in, continuous effort is made to include ‘science in the news’. This ethos and philosophy appears to be shared rather equally across the three centres: House of Sciences, Domus and Aquarium Finisterrae.

A dichotomy can be seen from the outset of all three science centres, as not only are the exhibits similar to ‘interactive science centres’ (such as Thinktank Museum), but there is a large variety of activity based exhibits, i.e. exhibits where individuals and families play and work together to learn and study the science behind the exhibit.

There is a diverse programme on offer to anyone attending the science centres; from conferences, specialist and general courses, personalised planetarium shows, workshops on weekends for children, and science camps over the summer. There is also a specialised programme for schools attending the science centres, with discounts for schools with local children going free! It is no surprise that so many families visit these institutions, taking with them a sense of pride as they encourage relatives, friends and family to come along.

The delivery of science communication is very informal. The leaders of the institutions feel very strongly towards, ‘stepping away’ from classic lessons. This is achieved by contests for schools, asking children to ask their own questions and then exploring the answers and finally promoting science in the news, to demonstrate that science can be liberating.

“The most important [thing] at the House of Sciences are not the answers, but asking questions”. Despite the House of Sciences being small, it boasts 15 very exciting exhibits, ranging from historical trails of Darwin’s adventures to ‘old-school hands-on’ everyday science. Mostly families are seen in the museum, as they work together analyzing the science both within the exhibit, whilst making links to the news and culture themselves. The Digital Planetarium has to be the most emblematic element to the museum. Here you gaze in awe at some of the most breathtaking stars you’ll ever see! The planetarium has the luxury of running a digital system alongside the analogue one, which was funded by the investment bank Caixanova.

“Know yourself as an individual and as a species”. The aim of Domus or “House of Man” is to awaken curiosity and cause reflection on our species. One of the most innovative exhibits, is where you need to relax as much as possible (here you brain activity is measured). The most relaxed person wins! In Domus you constantly explore you own body; from watching your pupils react to light to testing your visual, olfactory and hearing senses. One of the museum’s feature exhibition features the 3D projection hall, which in essence plays a variety of entertaining and factual programs/films for public and schools.

“Dive in the Atlantic, see the Ocean as Nemo would do, fall in love with the Galician coast”.

Aquarium Finisterrae centre of science and technology. Everyday, millions of litres of sea water is filtered and sent straight into the museum to providing you with an exceptional experience. This museum pushes local and cultural links to its visitor, by showing everyone that the ocean is not a separate world to ours. The 300 or fish and plant life, are all local and can be studies and marvelled close-up in this museum. The location of this museum is more purposeful as you can overlook the Galician coast from the museums’ restaurant eating sustainable Galician fish! School children are encouraged to spend the night with the fishes in any part of the museum. Most however, enjoy sleeping under the sharks, inside the Nautilus exhibit, which is submerged in 4.4 million litres of sea water.

Thinktank Planetarium constantly explores different varieties of Fulldome content; the next step for me is to bring Fulldome photography into our programmes. Within Thinktank’s galleries; it would nice to see if we could include some ‘hands on’ traditional exhibits, considering Birmingham’s industrial history, it would not look out of place I think.

The European Office of Cyprus co-ordinated a Mathematics Theatre Competition in April/ May 2010.  CASC’s Romanian partners, ProSal, and the University of Petrosani went along to watch to see if something similar would work in Romania:

The competition asked students from gymnasium and lyceum to prepare short plays with a mathematical theme and was hosted by the University of Cyprus central building, Lefkosia.  Our colleagues in Cyprus are very interested in ways of making mathematics more attractive to students and are looking at various ways of collaborating with specialist in comedy and magic to achieve this.

The Romanian group had the opportunity to watch four plays, with the theme of mathematical topics in a parallel past – present, three of them in the ancient languages & Modern Greek language, and one in English. The commitment of the students and teachers seemed remarkable.

At this time, we are not sure whether or not such an activity would work well in Romania.  We are looking forward to reading the detailed report and evaluation of the activity to understand the impact of the competition on the public to which it was addressed. <for more information see www.eucasc.eu, http://casc.posterous.com >.

In addition to seeing the competition, we also took the opportunity to meet with Cypriot academics to discuss common areas of research and possible synergies.

At the Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, we met with Professors and specialists of the Faculty of Geotechnical Sciences and Environmental Management and Research Management and Research, International and Public Relations Department.  This has opened a communication channel for future collaborations:
– In the Erasmus Exchange Programme
– Cooperation under international projects framework, with topics related to environmental protection.
We were interested to find out how Universities in Cyprus communicate with the public.  It appears that this is mainly via the Internet and typed materials, like in Romania.