Professor Of Science Research Articles

Modification of Erroneous and Correct Digital Texts

The end-user paradox and the illusion of digital prosperity reveal the contradictory situation in which both non-professional and professional computer scientists and engineers seem satisfied with digital development but unaware of the magnitude of waste generated by end-users and their digital artifacts. To measure this waste and to reveal end-users’ problem-solving strategies, our research group set up an objective measuring system that can calculate the entropy of digital texts (EDT). To calculate EDT, a testing process of 53 participants was launched where erroneous and correct natural language digital texts were modified according to the requirements of the tasks. It was found that erroneous documents require more time and information to be modified, which implies that waste is generated by handling these documents. It was also found that when the problem-solving processes are broken down into atomic steps, EDT can reveal uncertainty and idleness, which further increases waste. The goals of the present paper are to call attention to (1) the hidden waste generated by billions of end-users and its consequences, (2) educational approaches and general ignorance which have led to these low-level results, and (3) the need to set up a standard evaluation system for further analyses.

Competences of Basic Science and Technology Teachers in Junior Secondary Schools for Effective Service Delivery in Bassa Area Directorate of Education, Plateau State, Nigeria.

This study investigated the competences of Basic Science and Technology teachers in Junior Secondary Schools for effective service delivery in Bassa Area Directorate of Education, Plateau State. The study adopted a survey design and employed closed ended structured questionnaire, Teacher Competence on Students Academic Achievement in Basic Science and Technology Questionnaire (TCSABSTQ) for data collection from respondents. The population of the study comprised 51 Basic Science and Technology teachers in 39 Junior Secondary Schools in Bassa Local Government Area while a sample of 20 respondents was selected using simple random sampling technique. The instrument was determined using test-retest reliability method with a reliability coefficient r=0.93. Mean scores were used in answering research questions. The study found out that most Basic Science and teachers in secondary schools in Bassa Local Government Area were qualified and competent to teach the subject as they mostly held B.Ed. or NCE in Integrated Science or a Bachelor of Science with a corresponding qualification in education such as Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE). Results showed that Teachers’ competences affected students’ performance as the quality of education students receive depends on the qualification of teachers. The study identified inadequate workshop and training, inconsistency in Integrated Science curriculum, lack of adequate instructional materials and inadequate funding as the challenges faced by teachers in teaching Basic Science and Technology in Junior Secondary Schools in Bassa Local Government Area. The study recommended among others that teachers should be encouraged to also register with professional science bodies such as the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN,) and new teachers should constantly go through in-service training, workshops and seminars to improve their pedagogical skills and subject matter competence. Accepted: 17/10/2024

The Role of Social Networking Sites to Promote Library Services

Social media platforms have become essential communication tools, attracting users with their unique ability to provide real-time information. Daily, the number of social media users continues to grow. Through these technologies or networking applications such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Telegram, Tumblr, Twitter, and others, individuals can share their thoughts, feelings, images, documents, and videos with one another. This paper explores the use of social media to promote library services. The goal of this research is to leverage social networking and its applications to enhance proactive training and raise awareness among teaching faculty, students, research scholars, and library information science (LIS) professionals regarding the significant importance of incorporating social networking within library services in our digital age.

The Paradoxical Development of Liberal Governance: International Adoption Policy and Professional Social Work in Authoritarian South Korea, 1953–1976

Abstract This article explores the development of international adoption policy in post-liberation South Korea, emphasizing the roles of American and Korean professional social workers. By analyzing the orphan registry and a pivotal international adoption law, it reveals how international adoption in South Korea presents a unique opportunity to observe the formation of modern social policy in a newly liberated nation during the Cold War. The study argues that adoption policy served as a crucial locus of transnational governance, where American and Korean social workers pursued their liberal ideals of professional social work within the context of the authoritarian policies of the South Korean state. However, their quest for scientific professionalism, standardized procedures, and public oversight led to a paradoxical evolution of adoption policy, diverging sharply from the trajectory seen in Western liberal democracies where social work significantly contributed to the consolidation and expansion of the welfare state. In South Korea, embedded transnationality and ideological mismatch resulted in the state’s further withdrawal and the creation of policy workarounds that undermined the core social work principle of the child’s best interests. This case highlights the complexities and blurred moral boundaries in the shaping of modern governance and the broader journey toward modernity under postcolonial, Cold War conditions.

Preparing students for success

With increased demand for skilled professionals in science and technology, universities are broadening entry requirements resulting in students entering these specialised degrees with potential knowledge gaps. This presents an opportunity to uplift student capability through personalised learning journeys, enhancing their university readiness. This report details the Monash College's new maths uplift program, which uses skills analysis tools and self-assessment processes to determine “where students are” on their learning journey, both at entry to the Monash College and through to their first year of university. Mapped to the maths requirements of their chosen degree, this program comprises three key components: (1) a comprehensive Teaching and Learning progression that maps the learning trajectory via six core domains of mathematics, (2) a set of skills analysis tests aimed at different entry and exit points in mathematics, and (3) a large set of self-paced online learning modules recommended to students based on the outcomes of their individual skills analysis tests. The three key components work together to provide a tailored educational experience supporting students towards their destination degrees. This paper reports on the development of this uplift program and presents preliminary findings indicating positive impacts on student preparedness and engagement.

Lost in translation: The need for updated messaging strategies in invasion biology communication

Societal Impact StatementAs with any complex environmental challenge, information about the “invasive species problem” must be communicated effectively to generate widespread public trust, understanding, and engagement in solutions. However, there is growing recognition that conventional messaging strategies can be ineffective or even detrimental at activating the broader public. Flawed communication practices can have harmful societal impacts by perpetuating misinformation, propagating feelings of panic and fatalism, and disaffecting audience members within historically marginalized communities. In this article, we draw attention to existing communication barriers in invasion biology and attempt to address the flawed messaging strategies which perpetuate negative societal outcomes.SummaryEffective communication about introduced, invasive species is necessary for the public to engage in productive dialogue and participate in solutions. Best practices in communication are more essential than ever before, as the harmful environmental and societal impacts of invasive species are exacerbated by globalization and anthropogenic disturbance. In this article, we review how public misunderstanding and mistrust present persistent barriers to invasion biology communication. We then describe three flawed messaging strategies that underlie these barriers. These strategies include fear appeals, simplified invasion metaphors, and militaristic and xenophobic language. Though intended to inspire a public sense of urgency and action, these strategies more often stoke sentiments of confusion and mistrust when employed in practice. Efforts to develop new best practices in communication are already underway. However, there is a great need for efficacy testing and wider adoption among science and education professionals alike. We draw from the interdisciplinary literature to recommend specific forms of value appeals, metaphors, and language that are a promising foundation for improvement.

Involvement of Academic Staff in the Practice of Professional Development

The article explores the level of involvement of scientific and pedagogical professionals in various social activities for professional development compared to other employee groups. It argues that obtaining additional professional training can be a valuable tool for career growth. The author sees professional development as an integral part of academic growth for scientific and educational workers, along with personal and career development. The findings are based on a combination of theoretical and empirical research conducted by domestic and international scholars, as well as official statistical data and the results of an original sociological study. The study involved a questionnaire survey of scientific and educational professionals (n = 223), as well as other employee groups (n = 833), in the Tyumen and Sverdlovsk regions. As a result, it was found that scientific and pedagogical workers are more likely to engage in professional development activities compared to other categories of the employed population. Continuing professional education programs appear to be the most common form of professional growth. Due to their specialized activities, academic staff tend to develop digital skills more often, while other groups develop personal skills to a greater degree. Based on the level of involvement in professional development, we identified five groups of respondents: “active and engaged”, “achieving the desired level or feeling disappointed”, “questioning or confused”, “recognizing the importance of professional development”, and “rejecting professional development”. The theoretical and empirical findings led to the development of potential strategies to enhance the engagement of scientific and educational professionals in ongoing skill development and acquisition of new competencies. This article is aimed at university management responsible for professional development of academic staff. The findings presented here may have practical implications for the development of personnel strategies at universities with the goal of increasing human capital and professional competence among academic staff, as well as motivating them to engage in continuous learning. The results of this study could be beneficial for participants in the academic community, as well as for specialists involved in developing educational programs and planning the future of universities strategically. The material presented in this paper is relevant not only for academic staff, but also for graduate students who are focused on their continuous professional growth within the academic sector.

Seeking Asylum in the United States: Intersectional Analysis of the Experiences of Transgender Women from the Central American Northern Triangle

The Northern Triangle countries, including El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, are sources of a significant number of asylum seekers in the United States today. This article examines the underlying societal dynamics in these countries and considers the typical profile of transgender immigrant women seeking asylum in the U.S. on the legal grounds of having faced gender-based violence in their countries of origin. It analyzes the relevant international conventions as well as the social determinants of the health and mental health of transgender asylum seekers. It draws from 35 cases of transgender immigrant women subjected to child sexual abuse; sexual assault, including assault by police; and forced sex work; it reviews examples from the academic and gray literature, including a precedent-setting case heard before the Inter-American Court on Human Rights. It discusses the implications for social science professionals, including the role of experts of country conditions. It provides guidance for immigrant service providers and advocates, particularly the importance of gender-affirming policies and healthcare to this population deserving of protection.

Identifying and Prioritizing the Educational Needs Professors of Medical Sciences in the Field of E-Learning with the Analytic Hierarchy Process Approach

Background: Professors in universities and educational institutions hold a crucial role in crafting educational approaches utilizing cutting-edge technologies. They need to possess significant expertise in e-learning and tackle the obstacles associated with delivering education and utilizing Information and communication technologies within higher education. To effectively navigate these challenges and adaptations, professors need to equip themselves with new educational techniques through training and readiness to adeptly incorporate emerging technologies into their teaching practices, thus enhancing the educational journey for students. By identifying, understanding, and ranking professors' requirements and preferences, effective and diverse educational initiatives can be tailored to meet their needs. Objectives: This research aimed to recognize the educational needs of medical science professors in the field of e-learning from the experts' point of view and prioritize these needs utilizing the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Methods: This practical study was conducted in 2022 using a process-oriented approach and AHP. The main stages included the creation of a hierarchical structure, comparative judgment, and determining priorities. In the first step, 13 criteria were identified, which were derived from scientific articles and previous research. In the second step, the pairwise comparison matrix was used for comparative judgment, and the weight of each criterion was calculated. The third step involved determining priorities based on the weight of each criterion and the inconsistency ratio. The participants of this study included professors of basic and clinical sciences from different faculties. Results: The results of this study demonstrated that from the point of view of experts and participants, among the 13 criteria, the skills of virtual teaching (with weights of 0.146 and 0.148), electronic content production (with weights of 0.093 and 0.092), and holding online training courses (with the weights of 0.092 and 0.100) formed the three main needs of medical science professors in the field of e-learning and had the highest degree of importance and necessity compared to other criteria. Conclusions: Identifying the educational needs of medical science professors for organizing and designing necessary programs to enhance knowledge, skills, and empowerment will lead to improving the quality of e-learning, and eventually, reducing professors’ concerns in this area.

Climate change: the biggest challenge of the modern century for workers

Climate change, as the greatest challenge of the century, has widespread effects on workers. These changes can lead to an increase in heat-related diseases, loss of jobs, and economic damage to businesses, change labor migration patterns and a decrease in job productivity. Therefore, considering the fact that climate change is currently and in the future considered one of the most important environmental challenges, long-term forecasting of climate variables to understand the extent of changes and consequently taking necessary measures to reduce the adverse effects of climate change should be of concern to various experts, including environmental science professionals. In this regard, public health experts, in line with their mission (the science of prevention), are seeking and organizing strategies to reduce these harmful effects on the health of communities and workers. Conducting research related to climate change for better preparedness for adaptation to this phenomenon and also reducing the costs of damages caused by these changes is very essential.

Introducing Our Custom GPT: An Example of the Potential Impact of Personalized GPT Builders on Scientific Writing

The rapid progression of artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, has contributed to increase its utility and popularity in various fields. Discourse about AI's potential role in different aspects of scientific literature such as writing, data analysis, and literature review, is growing as the programs continue to improve their capabilities. This study utilizes a recently released ChatGPT tool that allows users to create customized GPTs to highlight the potential of customizable GPTs tailored to prepare and write research manuscripts. We developed our 2 GPTs, Neurosurgical Research Paper Writer and Medi Research Assistant, through iterative refinement of ChatGPT 4.0's tool, GPT Builder. This process included providing specific and thorough instructions along with repetitive testing and feedback-driven adjustments to finalize a version of the model that fit our needs. The GPT models that we created were able to efficiently and consistently produce accurate outputs from inputted prompts based on their specific configurations. It effectively analyzed existing literature that it found and synthesized information in ways that were reliable and written in ways comparable to manuscripts authored by scientific professionals. While the ability of modern AI to generate scientific manuscripts has shown significant progress, the persistence of fallacies and miscalculations suggest that the development of GPTs requires extensive calibration before achieving greater reliability and consistency. Nevertheless, the prospective horizon of AI-driven research holds promise in streamlining the publication workflow and increasing accessibility to novel research.

Benefits of an educational intervention on functional capacity in community-dwelling older adults with frailty phenotype: A randomized controlled trial

BackgroundThere is an urgent demand for nurses to expand their knowledge and skills in managing frailty in primary care. Frailty is a multifaceted condition that is prevalent among older adults and often leads to reduced functional capacity. Currently, there is a limited understanding of the effectiveness of educational interventions aimed at improving functional capacity among community-dwelling frail older adults in a primary care setting. ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the impact of an educational program on functional capacity among pre-frail and frail older adults living in the community. DesignA 12-month, multicenter, randomized controlled trial. SettingsThe FRAGSALUD study was conducted across 14 healthcare centers situated within the regions of Cadiz and Malaga, Spain. ParticipantsA total of 199 frail/pre-frail community-dwelling older adults (74.2 ± 6.4 years). MethodsParticipants who met at least one Fried's criteria were assigned to either the control group (n = 90), which received usual healthcare assistance, or the intervention group (n = 109). The 6-month intervention comprised four group sessions and six telephone calls conducted by professional nurses, sport scientists, and nutritionists. This educational program focused on guidelines for physical activity, nutritional habits, cognition, and psychosocial well-being. Functional capacity was assessed using questionnaires for basic (Barthel Index) and instrumental (Lawton & Brody Scale) activities of daily living. All outcome measures were evaluated at baseline, immediately after the intervention (6-month), and six months after the intervention as a follow-up (12-month). Differences in functional capacity (Barthel Index and Lawton and Brody Scale scores) across the three time points were analyzed using Friedman's ANOVA, with Wilcoxon signed-rank test for pairwise comparisons. ResultsAt both 6-month and 12-month assessments, the control group showed a statistically significant decline in basic and instrumental activities of daily living compared to the intervention group, which maintained similar levels, preventing this age-related decline. ConclusionsThe educational intervention, designed for easy implementation within healthcare systems, especially for nurses, successfully maintained levels of functional capacity in basic and instrumental activities of daily living, while the control group experienced a decline in functional capacity during the 12-month follow-up. Thus, educational interventions are encouraged for preserving the functional independence of frail/pre-frail older adults living in the community. RegistrationThis trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT05610605) and the first participant was registered in March 2022.Tweetable abstract: The FRAGSALUD educational intervention prevents the age-related decline in functional independence over 12 months in frail older adults.

Research Progress of Maillard Reaction and its Application in Processing of Traditional Chinese Medicine

The Maillard reaction, also known as the ‘non-enzymatic browning reaction’, involves a reaction between reducing sugars and amino compounds, including amino acids and proteins. The Maillard reaction has been increasingly used in the production of traditional Chinese medicine and food. This study thoroughly examines the mechanism of the reaction, the factors that influence it and the techniques used for extracting, separating and purifying Maillard reaction products (MRPs) in food and Chinese medicine processing. Additionally, the article explores the physiological functions of MRPs, highlighting their antioxidant, hepato-protective, antibacterial, immune-boosting, anti-mutagenic, anti-inflammatory, health-promoting, detoxifying and antiviral effects. MRPs have diverse outcomes because of various influencing factors; they can contain trace amounts of potentially harmful constituents, such as acrylamide, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and advanced glycosylation products. The study also includes a comparative analysis of common methods used for the separation and purification of concentrated MRPs. These methods consist of ultrafiltration, macroporous resin, gel chromatography, ion exchange chromatography and dialysis. Results indicate that each method has advantages and disadvantages, and thus careful consideration should be placed on specific applications. Furthermore, a future outlook for the research and development of Maillard reaction and its products is proposed. Given that the physiological activities of MRPs are diverse, thorough qualitative and quantitative analysis of the reaction mechanisms, influencing factors and pharmacologically active ingredients is needed. This study offers valuable insights into the advancement of MRPs for industries involved in food and traditional Chinese medicinal material processing. These insights can be effectively utilised in healthcare and clinical practice, offering innovative ideas for scientific and technological professionals involved in research and development.

Identification crisis: a fauna-wide estimate of biodiversity expertise shows massive decline in a Central European country

Expertise in biodiversity research (taxonomy, faunistics, conservation with taxonomic background) appears to decline worldwide. While the “taxonomic impediment” is discussed extensively in the literature, much fewer papers focus on the identification crisis, i.e., the decreasing number of experts who can identify species, and the decline of species-based biodiversity research. As a test case to explore the gravity of the identification crisis, we chose Hungary, a Central European country with a strong history of comprehensive taxonomic expertise and research output. We set out to answer two main questions. (1) What proportion of the Hungarian fauna could currently be identified by Hungarian experts, and what factors determine which groups are covered; and (2) what are the trends of biodiversity research in Hungary, and what are the underlying reasons for these trends? We show that Hungary lacks active biodiversity experts for almost half of the nearly 36,000 animal species recorded in the country, and more than a quarter of the fauna have only one or two active experts available. We also show that faunistic research experienced a golden era between ca. 1990 and 2010. Since then, however, there has been a strong decline, with the number of active experts and published papers decreased to a level like that of the 1970s. Multiple factors are identified causing this trend, such as increased pressure to publish in high impact journals and increasing administrative duties of professional scientists. The next generation of biodiversity experts needs to be fluent in modern techniques and publication strategies but also maintain robust morphology-based knowledge to be equipped for identification tasks of difficult taxa. Despite being disadvantaged by exclusive application of citation-based evaluation, we do need more positions and focused grants for biodiversity researchers to maintain the country’s knowledge base and to avoid being increasingly dependent on—equally declining—foreign expertise.

The Emergence of New Disciplines and the Transformation of the Library and Information Science Profession

Abstract: Advances in information and communication technologies, digitalization, and the internet have changed the way people process, use, and share information. The transformation of the library profession and the emergence of new disciplines such as information science, knowledge management, and data science have continued to raise questions about professional identity, workplace, interdisciplinarity, and the types of skills and competencies needed for information professionals to compete in a highly technical and knowledge intensive environment. In this paper, we reflect on the historical development in the field and examine emerging trends and their impact on the transformation of the information and knowledge professions. Data analysis of course offerings from top-ranked information science schools (iSchools) has shown strong emphasis on the use of terms such as “information” and “information science.” The use of the term “data” has significantly increased in the past few years due to the addition of new specialization and degree programs in data curation and data science. The decrease in the use of the term “library,” even though the library is still the largest employer of information science students at all levels, could be attributed to the continued trend and desire by academics and practitioners to separate the profession from the place of work.

Exploring the Impact of Social, Cultural, and Science Factors on Students’ STEM Career Preferences

AbstractThe declining interest in STEM careers in the United Kingdom has raised concerns, prompting this study to explore the intricate relationship between social, cultural, and scientific identities and their impact on students’ inclination towards science and technology career pathways. Additionally, the study examines the associations between gender, gender-related job preferences, and career choices. Data were collected from 1,618 primary and secondary students in the UK. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including regression analysis and multivariate analysis, were employed for analysis. The key findings revealed a significant interaction effect between gender and gender-related job preferences. Social factors were identified as significant mediators, amplifying the influence of gender on career decisions and shaping gender-related job preferences. Cultural factors, particularly related to ethnicity, were found to shape job preferences, while religious affiliation did not exhibit a significant effect. Students’ perceptions of science, stereotypes associated with science professionals, and engagement in science extracurricular activities were positively correlated with a greater likelihood of expressing interest in STEM careers, demonstrating the influential impact of science factors on forming students’ STEM career choices. Interestingly, the type of education (primary or secondary) did not significantly impact job preferences, suggesting that preferences may become more refined or influenced by external factors as students progress in their education.

Two centuries of ornithological exploration of the Rio Doce Basin, southeastern Brazil. Part II—A catalogue of its birds and a gazetteer

The Rio Doce Hydrographic Basin (RDB) lies almost completely in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, a highly threatened tropical rainforest. The RDB has suffered dramatic anthropogenic impacts during the last two centuries and is currently one of the most degraded regions in southeastern Brazil. In this paper, we gathered 140,742 bird records collected since the early 19th by more than two thousand naturalists, professional scientists, and citizen scientists. This vast database was compiled from several sources, including published literature, unpublished technical reports, natural history museums, and citizen science platforms. After checking and standardizing the database, we found high species richness in the RDB, with 689 species recorded to date, from which 675 (98%) were documented by specimens or digital vouchers. This database is presented as a detailed catalogue, including maps containing all localities in which each species has been recorded. We present text accounts for 40 noteworthy species recorded in the RDB, and a complete gazetteer for the 636 localities sampled. Preliminary analyses reveal that the RDB avifauna suffered a dramatic change in its species composition during the last two centuries, mostly due to human activity. Highly sensitive species associated to pristine forests vanished, while species associated to dry and open habitat expanded their ranges in the RDB. Finally, in addition to thoroughly characterization of the RDB avifauna, this paper provides the basis for a series of studies about the avifauna of one of the hottest hotspots of biodiversity in the entire Neotropical region.

Exploring Chemists’ Understandings of the Nature of Science with their Levels of Expertise

Several Nature of Science (NOS) studies have been conducted on different categories of professionals and different age groups. Even though NOS is considered a structural facet of scientific literacy, not much research has been conducted on the NOS ideas of scientists and science professionals. This cross-sectional study investigated the nature of science (NOS) views of 40 participants who have or had exposure to chemistry research using a qualitative comparative analysis approach, in one chemistry department in a large Midwest R-1 university. The participants' chemistry research exposure varied from no research to 31 years of experience. Undergraduates, graduate students, postgraduate researchers, faculty, and scientists were recruited for this study to examine how their NOS understanding develops in relationship to their research exposure. These categories of participants demonstrated different and unique patterns of answers related to aspects of NOS. Science content knowledge and research exposure indeed enhanced science learners'/researchers’ NOS understanding, but NOS understanding is not developed in direct proportion to the amount of science content knowledge or research experience that an individual gained. It was observed that professionals with the same expertise level responded to NOS questions similarly, and professionals with different levels of expertise answered NOS questions in significantly different ways.

Addressing the complexities of evaluating comprehensive sexuality education: an Italian case study

Abstract Background Existing evaluation methods for assessing sexuality education programs may not be suitable for Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) interventions, which are globally indicated as the most effective approach for promoting sexual health and preventing STIs. This holds particular significance in countries, such as Italy, where CSE is not integrated into school curricula. In a pilot project funded by the Italian Ministry of Health since 2019 (EduForIST), we aimed to develop a composite evaluation framework to test the CSE intervention we implemented in lower and upper secondary schools over the past 4 years. Methods Based on the latest available evidence, evaluating a CSE intervention requires addressing various dimensions. These include assessing the quality of programs and their implementation, as well as measuring outcomes and impact. Through iterative consultations with experts and providers, methods, criteria, and metrics were chosen and tested for each dimension. Results Program quality was evaluated by an expert advisory board. Instruments for implementation quality assessment included: satisfaction survey among students; reflective journals and SWOT analysis drawn up by educators delivering intervention, exploring their perceptions, practices, and attitudes; surveys among teachers and parents, measuring knowledge, attitude, and practice on CSE, and observed changes among adolescents. A four-arm, Solomon, cluster design study was designed to evaluate outcomes in terms of changes in students’ knowledge. Clinical and behavioral indicators in the short, medium and long term were selected as measures of the impact of the intervention. Conclusions In the field of CSE implementation research, a multi-component approach to evaluation is needed to provide a solid basis for informing policymakers. The involvement of providers, recipients and contextual adults is essential in evaluating CSE interventions. However, assessing long-term impact requires long time frame. Key messages • Assessing CSE interventions requires a multi-component evaluation approach, considering the impact on the personal and emotional development of individuals in order to sustain behavior changes. • The proposed evaluation framework may inform scientific community, professionals, and decision-makers on effectiveness of interventions in settings where CSE is not yet included in school curricula.

Situating data stories in space to entice new audiences to engage with science

ABSTRACT Science communication predominantly engages individuals who already possess a pre-existing interest in science, thereby limiting its reach to a broader and more diverse audience. Situated approaches that intertwine content with spatial design may overcome interest barriers as it allows for spontaneous encounters with science. This paper describes the design of a multi-modal physicalisation coined Star Listener as the result of a collaboration between scientific experts (in astrophysics), design researchers and media professionals. Star Listener consists of different sensory engagement modalities, including textual information panels, speakers that distribute sonified data of stars, two public video displays with an animated explainer and interactive touchscreens with a mini-game. Star Listener was placed in an entryway of a public library for a period of 2 months. We evaluated this set-up by observing and interviewing passersby, both in an in-the-wild study and as a controlled in-the-wild study. We present design recommendations for the design of situated data representations and narrative physicalisations to support engagement of varied audiences with science.