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Update 20, March 2007What contributions are science centres and museums making in your community? What best-practice approaches by science centres and museums make a difference to important government agendas such as increasing young people's interest in science careers or communicating challenging science topics to the public? This is a monthly update on a project focusing on such questions in the APEC region. Public engagement the key to disease controlThe relative ease of global travel has provided diseases with a means of crossing borders and continents. In the past five years alone, SARS and Avian Influenza have shown how quickly diseases can spread. At a recent animal health conference in Hinxton in the United Kingdom, it was indicated that one factor greatly improves the effectiveness of disease control measures: public involvement. By involving the public, interactions between international scientists and local and national authorities are improved. Scientists can be important advocates for investments in disease transmission controls. Science centres and museums could also play an important role in communicating research findings to communities – providing relevance in the local context. A public engagement approach has already been shown to influence policy on the provision of social services such as education, health and water in Chad. Read the full report in ‘Science’. Research Partnerships: How to make them more effectiveResearch and development or research for development? What kind of research, and in particular research partnerships, can contribute to the development of a country, not just science? The Commission for Research Partnerships with Developing Countries (KFPE) has recently published a partially revised second edition of Improving Impacts of Research Partnerships. This book will interest those concerned with making research collaborations more effective and equitable. Using a range of case studies, the authors have collated information that can be used to guide an assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of research partnerships, in particular the impact of a partnership on knowledge generation, attitudinal change and impacts on target groups such as policymakers and the local population. Upcoming Conferences5th World Conference of Science Journalists Ecsite 2007 48th International Conference on Health and
Science Communication ASPAC 2007 New on our websiteFor a summary of what’s new on the website each month, check on the main news page of the site. ContactAPEC Science Centre Impact Project Secretariat |
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