Science and Society -Science and Society -the example of the LHCthe example of the LHC

Mike GreenMike Green

Royal Holloway University of Royal Holloway University of LondonLondon

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STFC Science and SocietySTFC Science and Society

In 2006/7 PPARC S&S In 2006/7 PPARC S&S budget was about £1.2M.budget was about £1.2M.

Promoting the LHCPromoting the LHC is part; is part; budget about £700k over budget about £700k over four years.four years.

Strategy is overseen by a Strategy is overseen by a group of physicists and group of physicists and communication experts.communication experts.

Strategy document at Strategy document at http://http://www.pparc.ac.ukwww.pparc.ac.uk/ Ed// Ed/LHCCom.aspLHCCom.asp..

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Key audiencesKey audiences

PublicPublic: all sections but with : all sections but with emphasis on those interested in emphasis on those interested in science and technology. science and technology. They fund us.They fund us.

Students and their teachersStudents and their teachers: : emphasis on 14 – 16 but also emphasis on 14 – 16 but also gifted 12 – 14 and those 16 – 18. gifted 12 – 14 and those 16 – 18. We want to support science in We want to support science in schools.schools.

Policy makers and opinion Policy makers and opinion formersformers (MPs, House of Lords, (MPs, House of Lords, government policy makers, …). government policy makers, …). They make or influence funding They make or influence funding decisions.decisions.

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Formative evaluationFormative evaluation

We need to know how to be effective in our We need to know how to be effective in our engagement with people by listening to engagement with people by listening to them not by guessing.them not by guessing.

Formative evaluation carried out by Formative evaluation carried out by consultants in 2007 with focus groups from: consultants in 2007 with focus groups from: “scientifically inclined” public, teachers and “scientifically inclined” public, teachers and pupils.pupils.

Report available at Report available at http://www.pparc.ac.uk/Ed/LHC.asphttp://www.pparc.ac.uk/Ed/LHC.asp

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Public perceptions/interestPublic perceptions/interest

Key area: ‘origins of the universe’, ‘Big Bang’.Key area: ‘origins of the universe’, ‘Big Bang’. General ignorance of antimatter and dark matter.General ignorance of antimatter and dark matter. Words ‘physics’ and ‘particle physics’ daunting.Words ‘physics’ and ‘particle physics’ daunting. Most thought Most thought “Why does matter have mass?” “Why does matter have mass?” and and

“How gravity works” “How gravity works” already known.already known. Some felt LHC not relevant to their lives but Some felt LHC not relevant to their lives but

interested in spin-off, particularly medical.interested in spin-off, particularly medical. Cost is not a big issue.Cost is not a big issue.

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Key messagesKey messages

One of the biggest projects ever in science.One of the biggest projects ever in science. Addresses fundamental questions about the universe.Addresses fundamental questions about the universe. International collaborative venture; UK has a major role.International collaborative venture; UK has a major role. Valuable technological spin-offs.Valuable technological spin-offs. We wish the public to share the excitement we feel.We wish the public to share the excitement we feel. Young people can be part of such activities if they study Young people can be part of such activities if they study

physics.physics. British industry benefits.British industry benefits. For reasonable public investment we will learn much about For reasonable public investment we will learn much about

how the universe works.how the universe works.

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Key elementsKey elements

Appoint a project managerAppoint a project manager TV and radio coverage:TV and radio coverage:

– Target: two major terrestrial and three Target: two major terrestrial and three non-terrestrial TV programmes;non-terrestrial TV programmes;

– News and daytime TV and radio News and daytime TV and radio coverage.coverage.

National schools programme:National schools programme:– Briefings and support material for Briefings and support material for

teachers;teachers;– Visits to schools;Visits to schools;– National lecture tours.National lecture tours.

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Key elementsKey elements

Major exhibitions: Science Major exhibitions: Science Museum Apr – Sep 2007 Museum Apr – Sep 2007 http://www.sciencemuseumhttp://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/antenna/bigbang/.org.uk/antenna/bigbang/

Public events in science Public events in science centres etc.centres etc.

Receptions for VIPs and Receptions for VIPs and opinion formersopinion formers

Website at Website at www.lhc.ac.ukwww.lhc.ac.uk

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Press activityPress activityGuardian – 27 March 2006: “In praise of ... Cern”Guardian – 27 March 2006: “In praise of ... Cern”

Buried deep in granite under the border between France and Buried deep in granite under the border between France and Switzerland, the biggest and most expensive scientific experiment Switzerland, the biggest and most expensive scientific experiment on earth is nearing completion. Working at temperatures colder than on earth is nearing completion. Working at temperatures colder than deep space, the 27km-long Large Hadron Collider (LHC) will, when deep space, the 27km-long Large Hadron Collider (LHC) will, when it is first fired up next year, reshape what is known about the origins it is first fired up next year, reshape what is known about the origins of the universe. The flagship project of of the universe. The flagship project of Cern, the international Cern, the international particle physics laboratory whose expertise is so wide-ranging that it particle physics laboratory whose expertise is so wide-ranging that it invented the world wide web as a sideline and gave it away freeinvented the world wide web as a sideline and gave it away free, the , the LHC is an uplifting example of international cooperation achieving LHC is an uplifting example of international cooperation achieving what no single country could manage … it brings together 6,400 what no single country could manage … it brings together 6,400 scientists from around the globe. … The aim is to find and explore scientists from around the globe. … The aim is to find and explore dark matter, the unknown type of matter which dominates the dark matter, the unknown type of matter which dominates the universe. Cern's scientists talk of finding new dimensions. The universe. Cern's scientists talk of finding new dimensions. The specialism is so extraordinary that the consequences are near specialism is so extraordinary that the consequences are near impossible for non-experts to comprehend: but what is found at impossible for non-experts to comprehend: but what is found at Cern in the next few years could change the world.Cern in the next few years could change the world.

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LegacyLegacy

A new generation of particle A new generation of particle physicists trained to work with physicists trained to work with the media and schoolsthe media and schools

A larger group of journalists A larger group of journalists aware and supportive of particle aware and supportive of particle physics and willing to write physics and willing to write about itabout it

Increased political support for Increased political support for particle physicsparticle physics

Increased awareness in UK Increased awareness in UK industry of the commercial industry of the commercial opportunities at CERNopportunities at CERN

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A tunnel to the beginning of time