SCIENCE AS A CULTURE, AND AN INTRODUCTION TO NEW

PUR EXPERIMENTS IN JAPAN

Hidehiko AGATAh.agata@nao.ac.jp

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

The level of public understandingof science（％）

5848

5253535456

59596061616263

676768

73

0 20 40 60 80

EU- average

Portugal

Greek

Ireland

Spain

J apan

Bergium

Luxemburg

Germany

Austria

Italy

France

England

USA

Denmark

Finland

Netherlands

Sweden

On the lowest levels

Nation World Ranking

Percentage of Liking science

Indonesia 　 32 　 96 ％

Malaysia 　 22 　 96

Singapore 　　 2 　 86

England 　　 9 　 83

Hong Kong 　 15 　 76

USA 　 18 　 73

Canada 　 13 　 70

Taiwan 　　 1 　 69

Japan 　　 4 　 55

Korea 　　 5 　 52

The ratio of students who like science is the second worst in 38 nations,

in spite of the fact they score highly on science exams.

ＩＥＡ ,1999(38nations)

Japanese Students dislike science

太陽と地球の関係の理解

地球は太陽のまわりを回って

いる56%

太陽は地球のまわりを回って

いる42%

No Answer2%

調査Ｃ，Ｄ，Ｅ，Ｆ合計　３４８名

The earth rotates aroundthe sun

The sun rotates around the earth

Earth revolution is not treated completely in elementary school in Japan

60% of Elementary school students know the earth rotates around the sun

Why are astronomical education and popularization important?

Example 「 SSC vs HST 」SSC (a Large Hadron Collider )

1991 　 start but 1993 　 stop

HST (Hubble Space Telescope)

1990 launch and 1993 repair

Astronomy replies to the curiosity of students and public.

We will use astronomy as a scientific entrance.

Consideration about Culture

Science is the same

Public culture is different

Goals and approaches of education & popularization are somewhat different in the different countries.

In The Public Understanding of Reseach (PUR) ,

The PUR CultureEurope – 　 “ Dialogue”

Dealing with technological risk and “science/society” more generally calls for the development of new forms of dialogue between researchers, experts, political decision-makers, industrialists and members of the public. - Science, Society and the Citizen EU Commission Working Document (EU) 2000

A meaningful response to the need for more and better dialogue between the public and science in the United Kingdom requires us to go beyond event-based initiatives like consensus conferences or citizens' juries. The United Kingdom must change existing institutional terms of reference and procedures to open them up to more substantial influence and effective inputs from diverse groups. - Science and Society - House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology Third Report: (UK) 2000

US - 　 “ Understanding”The Informal Science Education (ISE) program invests in the development of experiences

that encourage informal learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). - NSF-ISE Solicitation 05-544

Japan - 　“ Interest 　＆　 Awareness” It is required to cultivate confidence of the public in science and technology by not only ar

ousing their interest as the "recipient" of science and technology, but also arousing their participatory awareness as the "maker in collaboration" with experts. - Annual Report on the Promotion of Science and Technology 2001 - Creativity of Japan's Science and Technology‐(Summary) 　 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology 2001

Robert Semper (2005)

“Café Scientifique”s are starting to become popular in Japan. Science Cafés are seen as a good way to relax and enjoy scientific discussion. But in Japan, cafés are as not relaxing for the general public as they are in the U.K., and a science café might feel quite similar to a normal science lecture. For a interactive communication in Japan, other methods are needed.

So we devised a scientific communication method more adapted to Japanese Culture.

Concept of Concept of ““Astronomy Pub”Astronomy Pub”

ResearcherCitizen

Communicatio

n

Formation and improvement of scientific literacy & social literacy

Improvement in the social literacy of a researcher, and formation and improvement of civic scientific literacy are aimed at through the frank interactive communicationof a researcher and a citizen.

スクリーン

““Astronomy Pub”Astronomy Pub”

Citize

n

Science Café Style

Talk

Talk

Researcher

Guest speaker

The total is about 2 hours

First, a Discussion (Debate) is held on stage:　 This will help the participants’ feel more emotionally involved, or fell attached to one of the speakers. This leads to conversations off stage.

Limited Participants: Less then 30,so everybody can talk to the researcher and the guest

Alcohol: Smoothens lips, makes a easy to participate atmosphere

Citize

n

Dialog

Researcher

Guest

After 40 minutes of discussion,

the speakers will get off of the stage and converse with the participants.　　 Rule: Each participant shall not restrain a speaker for more then 5 minutes.

Provide witty foods and drinks.

Citize

n

Dialog

Floor

Stage

The Table

of drinks

& foods

““Astronomy Pub”Astronomy Pub”

スクリーン

Citize

n

Science Café Style

Talk

Talk

Researcher

Guest speaker

Conclusion of a meeting

A commemorative photo is taken or it sings a song in chorus all together.

How to collect is also according to the researcher of the role of a host.

““Astronomy Pub”Astronomy Pub”

Comparison of lecture , Café , and pub

(A) Lectuer Meeting (B) Café Scientifique (C) Astronomy Pub

The same researcheres carries out for citizens at the same placeas “astronomy pub”.2006/11 ～ 2006/12 　 5times

Dr.Agata presides at the Graduate University for Advanced Studies, and it carries out for citizens in it on May 3, 2006. Three graduate students present each research.

Dr.Agata presides and it carries out once every month.2006/11 ～　 6times

N=236 N=32 N=107

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

%

female male no answer

sex

lectureCaféPub

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

%

<20 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60< noanswer

age

(A) lecture(B)Café(C)Pub

Very

Sati

sfi

ed

Mostl

y S

ati

sfi

ed

Hard

to s

ay

Mostl

y U

nsati

sfi

ed

Very

Unsati

sfi

ed

No a

nsw

er (A) lecture

(B)Café(C)Pub

53

41

2 10 3

3946

15

0 0 0

4542

10

20 1

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

%

Obverall Satisfaction

Conclusion (from 　questionnaire)

“Astronomy Pub" participant's degree of satisfaction is higher than a general lecture meeting and a science cafe

In dialog , "frank" and "The softened atmosphere" is important.

Examination of whether the dialog with an "average citizen" is materialized is future.

I want to also perform measurement of the social literacy of a researcher from now on.

It is important to carry out continuously. Then, Can't research institution, university, and science museum be carried out, either?

Future PUR in JapanFuture PUR in Japan

• Training of science communicator • Dialog with citizens For example, ‘Astronomy Pub’ (science cafe) • Expansion of ‘Outreach’ For example, information service in Web Delivery Lesson at School

• Fusion and cooperation of “research community” and “educational

community”

• Narrative Importance of talking about reseach• Experience Experience of real science • Enjoy• Communication etc.

Science is Culture !

What is the universal PUR ?What is the universal PUR ?

http://www.nao.ac.jp/

The Universe Map

Japanese version English-language version

Portuguese version

Let’s make posters in the language of each country!

The recently result of the research on the universe and a life

Now of GalileoNow of Darwin

Science is Culture. Let's aim at promotion of the science　　　　　　 to make people happy. For this purpose, 　　 Education and Pubic Outreach is important ．

Thank you so much for listing to my lecture!Thank you so much for listing to my lecture!

AGAGaaTTa + a + CCulture = ulture = TheThe genegene which tells which tells sciencescience