How to nurturing science literacy and promoting science
communication
Masataka Watanabe
Science Communication Expert
the 1st Asia Science Educator Academy 2010
in Seoul
S&T “Boom”, Decline and Change in Japan
60s & 70s:Dreams for S&T
1960: National S&T Week Begins!
80s & 90s:Disengagementwith S&T
Youngsters’ Science Festival since 1992
International Science and Technology Exposition in 1985
Youngsters’ Science Festivals since 1992Many science shows, exhibits, workshops etc.Science is fun but . . .
Copyright© 2009, Yusuke Nishida
Shinagawa (2008)
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100,000
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Even
ts
Aud
ienc
e
Year
Audience
Events
S&T “Boom”, Decline and Change in Japan
60s & 70s:Dreams for S&T
1960: National S&T Week Begins!
80s & 90s:Disengagementwith S&T 1996~2005
Promotion of Learning, Understanding and Interests
1996~: The S&T Basic Planto achieve a higher standard of S&T in Japan
Youngsters’ Science Festival since 1992
International Science and Technology Exposition in 1985
Performance in science and proportions of students expecting a science-related career at age 30
30
40
50
60
70
80
小学第5学年
小学第6学年
中学第1学年
中学第2学年
中学第3学年
Yes
, I d
o. /
In g
ener
al, I d
o.
Do you like studying XXXX?
Science
J apanese
Mathematics
Social science
English
Boys
Girls
Created from the “2001 Survey on Implementation of Curriculum” conducted by the National Institute for Educational Policy Research.
Do you like studying science?
Boys who like science
Girls who like science
Science
Japanese
Mathematics
Social science
English
5th grade of elementary school
6th grade of elementary school
1st grade of junior high school
2nd grade of junior high school
3rd grade of junior high school
%
20
40
60
80
5th grade of elementary school
6th grade of elementary school
1st grade of junior high school
2nd grade of junior high school
3rd grade of junior high school
Rat
io(%
)
J apanese
English
Social science
Mathematics
Science
Proportion of students who answered that they think studying will be useful to them in their daily lives or when they enter the workforce
This graph shows the proportions of students who answered “Yes, I do” or “In general, I do” to the question “Do you think that studying XXXX will be useful to you in your daily life or when you enter the workforce?” It was created from the “2001 Survey on Implementation of Curriculum” conducted by the National Institute for Educational Policy Research.
Japanese
Mathematics
EnglishSocial science
Science
Do you think that science is useful?
General attitudes of Japanese students toward S&T
Science curriculum is fun but…
Increasing lack of incentive to study hard in saturated society.
Decreasing time to communicate with each other.
Decreasing time to play in nature.
Decreasing interest of parents in S&T.
S&T “Boom”, Decline and Change in Japan
60s & 70s:Dreams for S&T
1960: National S&T Week Begins!
80s & 90s:Disengagementwith S&T 1996~2005
Boosting Education, Understanding and Interest
1996~: The S&T Basic Planto achieve a higher standard of S&T in Japan
2006~2010Promotion of Science Communication
Youngsters’ Science Festival since 1992
International Science and Technology Exposition in 1985
2011~Facilitating the citizenry’s involvementin S&T Policy
Science Literacy for the living of high quality
To recognize S&T as Knowledge for living To insert Science into the culture Science communication to meet that goal
Science For All Japanese Project since 2005
http://www.science-for-all.jp
Science For All Japanese Project After 2007
Public courses of “Science for All Japanese” in local areas for general public.
Science café Rewriting of these reports for school teachers Science Communication Courses in National Science
Museum Science festival activities Inclusion of arts into the science literacy as non-
linguistic communication of science.
Science Cafecafé scientifique
Avoidance of Science Science is difficult. Scientists are weird. Science is dangerous/scary. The feelings of people who are not interested in science
are not understood.
Momentum of Grassroots Campaign People want to become familiar with science in their own
way. Large-scale lectures require a great deal of preparation. People dislike being forced to behave in a certain way. Check Points It shouldn’t be “top-down”.
It shouldn’t just be a PR opportunity or a talk show.
The choices of guest, place, and time should be
appropriate.
The facilitator should have appropriate qualifications. It shouldn’t make people feel like they have wasted their
time.
Duncan Dallas
District Phase
Synchronized Phase
From Isolated Information to Common Knowledgeby IDOBATA DIALOGUE or Science Café
Origin of Japan’s science café
NetworkingMore than 1,000 science caféshave been held around the countryin 2009!
Social Education
University
Research Institution
Science Museum
NPO, Science Café etc.School
Science Communication
Facilitate Science Communication by Networking
Convection/Network
Mass Media
Science Agora in Tokyo from 2006
academicsocieties
schools
government
museumscharityNPO
industry
citizens
media
SCIENCE AGORA
Foundation of network organization
Admission free!
CommunicationConvection
Propagation of Science Communication
Developing understanding of advanced research
Participation in the decision-making processes for science policies
Elimination of distrustImmunity to dubious statements,
etc.
Love of scienceScientific rationalityHuman resource
development, etc.
Participation in the decision-making processes for science policies
Create enjoyment, excitement and accessible image for Science
People with high interest in science
Experts in science-related field
People with less interest
Science Literacy