An experimental approach to strengthen the role of science centers in the governance of science: Andrea Bandelli and Elly Konijn

Abstract

In the last decade there has been growing interest in Europe concerning the role that science centers and museums play in the governance of science. Science centers, in fact, have the potential to be one of the most effective platforms for the discussions and debates that enable citizens to inform and participate in the democratic development of science.1 Exhibitions and programs often offer learning opportunities and resources on the ethical, legal and social issues of scientific research in contemporary science and technology. Citizen science programs, science cafes, workshops, discussions and festivals are just a few examples of the wide variety of programs and activities in this direction that have emerged in the field. Two of the largest museums in Europe, the Science Museum and the Natural HistoryMuseum, both in London, went so far as to build whole new facilities for this purpose: the Dana Centre at the Science Museum and Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum have been established precisely with the goal of creating dialogue opportunities among visitors and between visitors and the scientists, researchers, museum staff and other players in the many fields in which these museums are active. Many other European science centers and museums include similar activities intheir programs and exhibitions; nowadays, it is virtually impossible to find a science center which is not active in the field of science engagement, opening up mechanisms and opportunities for their visitors not only to learn about science and technology, but to “play a role” in the ways science and technology are shaping our society. Projects funded since the late 1990s by the European Commission have seen sciencecenters and museums developing a variety of activities to tackle the most important issues and topics in the “science in society” agenda: from gender gap to responsible research, from climate change to stem cells to nanotechnology. In parallel, significant attention is given to participatory approaches and methodologies for the publicengagement with science at meetings for practitioners and scholars in the field, such as the annual Ecsite conference.2