Science Communication

"This chapter discusses how models, combined with modern data sources and statistical methods, can be used to test different hypotheses about the causes of migration. Mathematical formalisms for migration are presented. The ecological mechanisms that could spontaneously have given rise to migration-like patterns of space use from the interaction within and between groups of animals and their environment are discussed, showing that migration is best seen as to lie on a continuum from sedentary to nomadic movement patterns and not as a clearly distinct movement behaviour. Given the multitude of potential processes leading to migration, and the constraints imposed by data collection methods, it may be difficult to observe and identify the original cause. With this caveat in mind, the use of inferential methods to detect, quantify and identify the underlying mechanisms of migration is discussed and the links between models, data and inference are illustrated using three case studies.
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Updates:
The book already sold out! A corrected reprint is available since Dec 2011."

Tutte le informazioni e i dati più aggiornati per comprendere meglio il rapporto tra scienza e società «Dati come quelli dell'Annuario Scienza Tecnologia e Società non dovrebbero essere pubblicati da riviste specializzate, ma dovrebbero essere oggetto di presentazione sulle prime pagine dei gran-di quotidiani per cercare di scuotere il torpore» (Tullio De Mauro, linguista, già ministro della Pubblica Istruzione) L'Annuario Scienza Tecnologia e Società rappresenta un punto di riferimento per lettori e addetti ai lavori proponendo, in forma sintetica e accessibile, una raccolta aggiornata dei dati e delle informazioni più recenti provenienti dalle più accreditate fonti nazionali e internazionali. L'insieme di questi dati permette di comprendere le principali trasformazioni della ricerca e dell'innovazione della nostra società. L'edizione 2018 si caratterizza per l'attenzione ai temi della salute e dell'informazione, presentando in maniera organica gli elementi che animano il dibattito pubblico grazie ai dati raccolti attraverso l'Osservatorio Scienza Tecnologia e Società. Giuseppe Pellegrini, sociologo, insegna Scienza e coinvolgimento del pubblico all'Università di Padova. Assieme a Barbara Saracino ha curato le edizioni 2015 e 2016

Gli italiani sono un popolo scientificamente analfabeta? In che modo si informano su questioni scientifiche e tecnologiche? Quali atteggiamenti hanno nei confronti di temi scientifici come le biotecnologie, i cambiamenti climatici, le vaccinazioni o le medicine alternative e complementari? Quanto investe il nostro Paese nel settore ricerca e sviluppo? Quante risorse destina l’Italia per la sanità rispetto agli altri Paesi? L’Annuario Scienza Tecnologia e Società 2022 propone, in forma sintetica e accessibile, una raccolta aggiornata di dati e informazioni provenienti dalle più accreditate fonti nazionali e internazionali, per comprendere lo stato e le trasformazioni della ricerca e dell’innovazione nella società. Questa edizione si caratterizza per l’attenzione al tema della salute e alla rappresentazione grafica dei contenuti. Alcune infografiche permetteranno una lettura più agevole dei dati grazie a un formato comunicativo di facile consultazione e immediata comprensione.

Geoeengineering the climate by reflecting sunlight or extracting carbon dioxide from the atmosphere has attracted increasing attention from natural scientists, social scientists, policy makers and the media. This article examines promotional discourse related to geoengineering from the 1980s to 2010. It asks in particular how this option for dealing with the problems posed by climate change were framed through the use of conceptual and discourse metaphors and whether one can argue that these are metaphors we ‘live by’ or metaphors we might ‘die by’. Findings show that an overarching argument from catastrophe was bolstered by three conceptual master-metaphors, namely The Planet is a body, The Planet is a machine and The planet is a patient/addict, linked to a variety of discourse metaphors, older conceptual metaphors and clichés. This metaphorical landscape began to shift while the article was being written and will have to be closely monitored in the future.

A common practice uses funny and cute internet memes to describe natural hazards, such as hurricanes, to the general public. Emergency managers create an industry lacking credibility and seriousness when they use unrealistic and comedic scenarios to describe disasters. If people believe that hurricanes are cute and funny, they will not understand their risk and therefore will not prepare adequately.

En años recientes, miles de iniciativas ciudadanas alrededor del mundo han buscado influir en las políticas públicas de sus países con base en una combinación de conocimiento experto y expectativas de la población. Al hacerlo, quienes están a cargo no sólo retan a sus gobiernos a modificar su forma de trabajar, sino que buscan una reapropiación de lo que aquí llamo ‘conocimiento público’. A este proceso le llamo activismo práctico, pues busca la aplicación de saberes hacia un bien común. Temas como la defensa del medio ambiente, de los derechos humanos, de la justicia, o del desarrollo urbano, han pasado a ser arenas de debate público a pesar de los esfuerzos de autoridades gubernamentales por presentar sus propuestas como la última palabra. Este fenómeno se ha consolidado gracias a una convergencia de desarrollo tecnológico (tecnologías de la información y comunicación) y de emprendedurismo político (esfuerzos por participar en decisiones políticas).

Science communication is proliferating in the developing world, however, with respect to science centres, as a whole Africa is being left behind. Here 15 participants in a capacity building program are investigated using traditional needs-based and contemporary asset-based development conceptualisations. These development theories parallel deficit and participatory approaches, respectively, within science communication and demonstrate synergies between the fields. Data showed staffing, funding, governments, host institutions, and audiences are prominent needs and assets, networks are a major asset, and identified other influential factors. Analysis suggests a coordinated model involving individuals, host institutions and governments to facilitate growth of African science centres.

With “Horizon Europe”, the European Commission sets out the framework for research and innovation in Europe over the next seven years. The proposal outlines the contours of an innovative science policy that is open and responsive to societal needs, and where societal actors jointly undertake missions to discover sustainable solutions to present-day and future challenges. In our commentary we point to a number of modifications needed to strengthen the cross-cutting implementation of activities for societal engagement and responsible research and innovation.

This timely and engaging book addresses communicative issues that arise when science and technology travel across socio-cultural boundaries. The authors discuss interactions between different scientific communities; scientists and policy-makers; science and the public; scientists and artists; and other situations where science clashes with other socio-cultural domains. The volume includes theoretical proposals of how to deal with intercultural communication related to science and technology, as well as rich case studies that illustrate the challenges and strategies deployed in these situations. Individual studies explore Europe, Latin America, and Africa, thus including diverse Global North and South contexts.

In the 1950s, the situation in the USA was not so easy and the feeling of always being in danger was constant, because of the “containment policy”, contrasts, tensions, the promulgation of the Marshall Plan and the birth of NATO. People lived with the fear of an imminent outbreak of an atomic war. That’s why Norbert Wiener, Karl Deutsh and Giorgio de Santillana wrote a project to prepare American cities in the event of an atomic war.
The project, published in the magazine «Life» (December 18, 1950), was titled “How U.S. cities can prepare for atomic war - M.I.T. professors suggest a bold plan to prevent panic and limit destruction”. In that project the professors outlined their idea of “life belts” around the main cities. The idea was to create circular highways about ten miles from the city centre, with roads leading into the city like spokes on a wheel. The three men designated the perimeter of the life belts as evacuation points for city dwellers, also designing essential facilities and places. The paper aims to analyse the project, contextualizing it in the visions of the three professors of MIT attentive to the role of the scientist in political and social life.

Yayasan Senyum Ibu Indonesia (YSII) is a foundation that is engaged in empowering women, including empowering mothers to carry out environmental care movements in their homes. The problem that occurs is the lack of guidance to community members in this case due to the covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, entering the new normal era, we held training for YSII community members regarding the environmental care movement. Method: The training method we provide is using WhatsApp lectures using an ecofeminist approach. We use an ecofeminist approach because the YSII fostered communities are mothers who have problems with the environment they live in, both from the natural and social environment. Results: The result of this activity is an increase in the understanding of the participants and growing awareness to love the environment in which they live more. Conclusion: The problems that occur in the Environmental Care Movement in YSII fostered communities are caused by a lack of understanding and awareness from the surrounding community.

Il rapporto tra sviluppo delle biotecnologie ed esercizio della cittadinanza in alcuni contesti europei ed extraeuropei
costituisce il problema che si intende analizzare nell’ambito di questo volume.
Da sempre l’uomo ha selezionato piante, animali e microrganismi per soddisfare i suoi bisogni. Lo sviluppo di
metodi e conoscenze consente oggi, grazie alle biotecnologie avanzate, di trasferire geni fra organismi che non si
possono incrociare naturalmente. L’alta imprevedibilità degli effetti che si possono creare in questo modo è uno dei
punti caldi del dibattito apertosi su questo tema. Scienziati, politici, imprese, opinione pubblica e media sono da
tempo impegnati, nello spazio pubblico della comunicazione, a sostenere e ad argomentare le proprie posizioni
in merito. L’opinione pubblica, in particolare, si è divisa tra facili entusiasmi e paure definite “irrazionali”.

Desde que la televisión se estableció como industria, durante el siglo XX, se ha reconocido su gran impacto como referente cultural de las sociedades. Su llegada a Puerto Rico, en 1954, no solo marcó un hito en la historia de las telecomunicaciones de la isla, sino que cambió la manera de los puertorriqueños de construir tanto la identidad colectiva como su propia subjetividad. Durante las primeras tres décadas de la televisión, sus contenidos tenían una estrecha vinculación con el quehacer cotidiano. Su capacidad de informar y entretener desde la familiaridad referencial incrustó al medio televisivo en el inconsciente colectivo, creando una interacción simbiótica en la que el contenido de los programas respondía a las necesidades, aspiraciones y carencias del público y éste, a su vez, incorporaba frases, historias y personajes de la pantalla a todas las manifestaciones de su expresión, tanto en la esfera pública como la familiar y personal. Para la última década del milenio, los contenidos de la televisión en Puerto Rico habían experimentado importantes cambios en la programación. La televisión por satélite cambió, considerablemente, los intereses del público televidente en todo el mundo. Sin embargo, en Puerto Rico esta transición se daba a la par con un fenómeno sui géneris: La apropiación de las estaciones locales de televisión por parte de las grandes cadenas estadounidenses supuso un cambio radical en la programación y el público dejó de encontrar en la pantalla chica aquellas figuras, frases y situaciones con las que podía identificarse. Al llegar el nuevo milenio, los avances tecnológicos que hicieron posible la televisión por Internet y las redes sociales complicaron aún más el panorama, cambiando por completo los hábitos de consumo de medios del público y han ido desintegrando, a pasos agigantados, el poder socializador de la televisión puertorriqueña.

Abstract: Community detection is an important research topic in complex networks. We present the employment of a genetic algorithm to detect communities in complex networks which is based on optimizing network modularity. It does not need any prior knowledge about the number of communities. Its performance is tested on two real life networks with known community structures and a set of synthetic networks. As the performance measure an information theoretical metric variation of information is used. The results are promising ...

This paper offers an insight into the design structure of physics video hooks that were developed by the Science Education Resource design team in the school of education (SOE) in National University of Ireland, Galway (NUI Galway). A hook, is an instructional technique used to stimulate student attention (Hunter 1994, Lemov 2010), interest (Jewett 2013) and engagement (McCrory 2011, Riendeau 2013). The physics video hooks followed a design framework that is illustrated below by breaking down the centre of gravity (COG) hook. Various design principles and elements embedded within the COG hook are presented with examples and the time they occur within the video. The intention of this article is that the design can be replicated and modified to aid teachers and designers in the development of a multitude of classroom based multimedia resources.

Archaeology might be defined simply as the study of 'the human altered world'. Until recently, traces of humanity's past could have only been found on Earth. But, as our influence continues to expand beyond, we must consider human activities and human-made objects in space and how they—as extensions of ourselves—impact other worlds and the spaces between. This is 'space archaeology'. Features interviews with five activists and innovators in the research and education of outer space from the perspective of archaeology and anthropology.

In the midst of a particularly difficult, deadly flu season, Gloria Copeland – televangelist, co-founder of Kenneth Copeland Ministries, and member of President Trump’s faith advisory council – seemed to suggest that flu shots were unnecessary to protect against influenza, and instead, one should “inoculate yourself with the word of God.” This paper examines Copeland's inoculation rhetoric through the lens of inoculation theory and finds that Copeland's rhetoric was both consistent and inconsistent. She neither promoted flu shots nor used inoculation as a rhetorical device, but she did claim to be advocating inoculation of a different type.

Η σχέση αλληλεξάρτησης δομής-λειτουργίας αποτελεί βασικό θέμα της βιολογίας. Μια σημαντική εφαρμογή αυτής της σχέσης αποτελεί το πώς η τρισδιάστατη δομή των πρωτεϊνών συνδέεται με τους ρόλους που διαδραματίζουν σε επίπεδο κυττάρου. Ωστόσο, σε πολλά σχολικά εγχειρίδια εισαγωγικής προσέγγισης παρατηρείται το φαινόμενο να αντιμετωπίζεται το ζήτημα της πρωτεϊνικής δομής
επιφανειακά, καθώς τα εγχειρίδια αυτά εστιάζουν στις σχέσεις μεταξύ πρωτοταγούς, δευτεροταγούς, τριτοταγούς, και τεταρτοταγούς δομής, χωρίς να αποσαφηνίζεται ο τρόπος με τον οποίο τα συγκεκριμένα επίπεδα οργάνωσης συμβάλλουν στη λειτουργικότητα του πρωτεϊνικού μορίου. Ως εκτούτου, με τη συγκεκριμένη πρακτική δραστηριότητα επιχειρείται η ενίσχυση της σύνδεσης μεταξύ της τελικής τρισδιάστατης διαμόρφωσης ενός πρωτεϊνικού μορίου, και της εξειδικευμένης λειτουργίας που αυτό επιτελεί. Με τη διερεύνηση της δομής και της λειτουργίας μιας υποθετικής πρωτεΐνης, οι μαθητές αναπτύσσουν μια εννοιολογική κατανόηση του τρόπου με τον οποίο συνδέονται τα δύο αυτά σημαντικά στοιχεία στην καθημερινή ζωή (π.χ. οι ρόλοι των πρωτεϊνών
ακτίνη και μυοσίνη στην μυϊκή σύσπαση, των αντλιών πρωτονίων στις κυτταρικές μετατροπές ενέργειας, ή των ανοσοσφαιρινών στην αντιμετώπιση των ξένων εισβολέων στον οργανισμό).