Welkom!What is your role

right now?

Workshop

An analysis of the actions iGEM members achieve during the

conversations with their public

Wageningen, 9 August 2013Paulien Poelarends

How do you want to present yourself when talking with non-scientists?

Today’s program

• A short introduction of my MSc thesis• A crash course discursive psychology

• Analysis of text fragments in groups + break

• Presentations about the analysis• Whole group discussion about your findings

• Short presentation of my thesis results• Closing words (19.00h)

Introduction of my thesis

One-way science communication

Interactive science communication• Science cafes• Social media• Science festivals• Chatting at a birthday party

Conversations shape the identity of science (Scott & Lane, 2000)

Introduction of my thesis (2)

One-way science in society (Bauer et al., 2007)

Limitations• Public deficit still present (Wynn, 2006)

• Agenda setting (Veen et al., 2012)

• Ethical issues are not discussed (Felt et al., 2009)

The stereotype of the scientist (Finson, 2002)

How scientists describe their own role (Davies, 2008; Horst, 2013)

Introduction of my thesis (3)

Interactional studiesScientists use different identities to:

• Present themselves as a superiority• To show engagement• To show emotions

How do iGEM members construct their identity and “doing science” to their public?

Meeting of Young Minds 2011 & 2012Discovery Festival | Transnatural Festival

Discursive psychology

• Discourse (conversation) is the primary arena for human action (Potter, 2012)

• Central question: What do people do with talking and writing? (Potter, 1996)

• Non-cognitive: Try to find out what talk does, not what is reflected in talk (Veen et al;, 2010)

Discursive psychology (2)

Kim: brr (.5) it’s getting cold in hereTom: Alright then (.2) I’ll close the window

3 core observations• Discourse is constructed• Discourse is action-oriented• Discourse is situated

Discursive psychology (3)

moderator: you have a question Audience2: yeah (.2) this euh switch of yours (.5) euh

were you able to modify the threshold?moderator to modify the threshold? audience2 yeah I mean so I mean you talked about

how many hours before (.) it was perceived as being rotten (.7) so I am wondering I mean this switch you have that is turned on is it turned on (.5) after half an hour

Fragment analysis + break

How do the iGEM members construct their identity & “doing science”?

• [ text ] Overlapping speech• (x.x) Pause of x.x seconds• (.) Micropause, less than 0.2 seconds• (text) Speech unclear• word,↓word Onset of noticeable pitch rise or fall• wo:rd Colons speaker has stretched the preceding

sound• WORD Speaker is talking louder• ° text ° Speaker is talking softer• ((text)) Transcriber’s remarks• = No pause between words or turns• >text< Fast speaking

(Jefferson, 2004)

What did you find?

How do the iGEM members construct their identity & “doing science”?

What implications do these insights have for the dialogue between iGEM and non-scientists?

Discussion

Goal: 4-5 actions for future conversations with your public

Thesis results

5 frequently occurring constructions

• just normal • having good will• a solver of global problems• careful• knowledgeable

Thesis results (2)

5 frequently occurring constructions

• just normal • having good will• a solver of global problems• careful• knowledgeable

Thesis results (3)

5 frequently occurring constructions

• just normal • having good will• a solver of global problems• careful• knowledgeable

Thesis results (4)

5 frequently occurring constructions

• just normal • having good will• a solver of global problems• careful• knowledgeable

Thank you for your attention!

More information via:@ppoelarends | nl.linkedin.com/in/paulienpoelarends/