Engaging Visitors in
Nanotechnology & Society
www.nisenet.org
Agenda
“Red Ball” and “What’s in the Box?” improv exercises
Big Ideas for nano and society
Conversations with visitors
Developing skills for conversation
“You Decide!” activity
Improv Exercise
Red Ball
What’s in the Box?
What skills are we practicing in these activities?
Courtesy Tracey Wilhelmsen, Tracey’s Culinary Adventures
Nano & Society Sprinkles
Courtesy Tracey Wilhelmsen, Tracey’s Culinary Adventures
Baking in Nano & Society
Goals for Conversations
1.
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4.
Educators and visitors participate in open-ended, engaging conversations.
Educators and visitors have distinct, equally important roles in the conversation.
Participating in a conversation is a meaningful learning experience for visitors.
Facilitating a conversation is a valuable interpretive method for facilitators.
How is this Different?
Demonstration
Conversation
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Scientist/educator has knowledge
and expertise to share
Visitors discover phenomena and
laws of nature
The facilitator communicates facts
Visitors ask questions and receive
answers
Public understanding
Use this approach to explain the
Bernoulli Principle to visitors
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Everyone has their own values and
perspective to share
Visitors form opinions and explore
ideas
The group considers facts and
values
Facilitators and visitors ask
questions and receive responses
Public engagement
Try this approach to engage visitors in
nano and society
Improvisation
Staff training technique
Motivate staff and create buy-in
Learn key concepts
Build confidence and skills for conversations
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Asking open-ended questions
Listening to visitor responses and building on them
Following visitors’ interests
Recognizing and accepting visitors’ opinions
Suggesting new ways visitors might think about technologies
and society
Raise energy level
Strengthen team cohesion
Conversations about Nano & Society
Exploring Nano & Society—You Decide
This presentation is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation under Award Nos. 0940143
and 0937591.
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this presentation are those of the
authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.