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This methodological review considers science festival evaluation and research studies that have been published in the peer-reviewed literature since 2011, when modern-day science festivals were defined formally. Since that time, the number of science festivals around the world has increased dramatically. The methods and results used to study science festivals are summarized in order to reflect on existing work within this growing sector. The existing literature base is then positioned in relation to recent recommendations for visitor studies research on informal science learning overall, to provide suggestions for expanding current practices to include new methods that have the potential to support continued learning and fill key gaps in the literature.
Citizen scientists can aid diagnostics Citizen scientists are an underrated source of observations on medical conditions. They frequently offer researchers a head start in the hunt for biomarkers (see, for example, the tentative identification of volatile indicators of early Parkinson's disease: go.nature.com/wggoss). The precision and highthroughput capability of analytical technology drives most advances in clinical diagnostics (L. M. McShane et al. Nature 502, 317-320; Science festivals preach to the choir Science festivals are designed to expand the public's interest in science, but we find that this genre of science communication appeals mainly to a select clientele. As part of our ongoing evaluation to determine how such activities might be improved (E. Jensen and N.
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