Means of Knowledge Dissemination: Are the <i>Café Scientifique</i> and the Artistic Performance Equally Effective?

Abstract

An increasing number of health researchers are opting for innovative approaches to communicate research findings. This article compares two methods for disseminating findings to various audiences: the Café Scientifique and the artistic performance. Analysis of surveys completed by 78 respondents indicates that the artistic performance is more effective in communicating research findings based on three of the four evaluation criteria used: it generates more questions and emotion among audience members and influences a greater number of individuals to alter their initial understanding of and opinion on an issue. The Café scientifique and the artistic performance both help participants to better understand the topic examined. The arts, however, shine a different light on the issue.

Public Engagement on Climate and Health in Museums and Participatory Dialogues may Foster Behavior Change

“…Future research could examine the effectiveness of such strategies. Rather, we confirm findings from previous research that these events can evoke emotion (Lafrenière and Cox, 2012), which may be necessary for action (Moser, 2007), and add to the literature suggesting that participants may come in with a high level of trust. This may mean that these events could serve as ways to mobilize people to action, specifically making them aware of their high levels of trust and asking them to leverage that with members of their community who may trust them instead of scientists whom they may not know, as suggested by cultural cognition (Kahan, 2008) and other similar theories (Bolsen et al, 2015) of democratic participatory behavior.…”

“…Although interactivity has been documented in science communication exhibits and events (e.g. Heath et al, 2005; Kamolpattana et al, 2015; Kato-Nitta et al, 2017), organizations that pursue more engaged discussion models may struggle to overcome years of entrenched styles of information delivery (Dijkstra, 2017;Lafrenière and Cox, 2012;Mizumachi et al, 2011), not only from within but also from the scientists they recruit to participate and public audiences themselves. Some have argued that museums can act as mediators for climate science communication (Salazar, 2015), or that climate change communication in formal education settings can be augmented through participatory dialogue (Busch and Osbourne, 2014).…”

“…For example, one of the questions asked participants if they intended to carpool within a month or six months after attending the program, with the options to indicate instead that they have already been carpooling for less than one month or for six months or more, as well as whether they do not intend at all to carpool. We gauged emotional engagement after the participatory dialogues through a polar question with a text box allowing for participants to elaborate on their response as to whether each of the three panelists generated emotion in the participant (Lafrenière and Cox, 2012). Participants also reported their ways of expected and actual participation in the event and their motivation for attending.…”

Panel-based exhibit using participatory design elements may motivate behavior change

“…In the science café model, participants co-create knowledge with the professional researchers through experience and build on their previous understanding, in this case through dialogue [Davies et al, 2009]. Despite the café model's popularity and support by many scientific organizations [Davies et al, 2009;Stilgoe, Lock and Wilsdon, 2014], existing research on science cafés suggests cafés fall short of their dialogue goals [Lafrenière and Cox, 2012;Dijkstra, 2017]. Participation from the public comes primarily through discussion at the end of the event, with the content shaped by the café organizers and presenters.…”

The emergence of science communication in Aotearoa New Zealand

“…[Hodder, 2010]. An increase of informal community discussions about science, in events such as café scientifique or "Science in the Pub" [Dallas, 2006;Lafrenière and Cox, 2012;Dallas, 2014;Grand, 2014], resulted in improved public engagement with scientific issues and promoted careers in science [Hodder, 2010].…”