SCIENCE OUTREACH Final Report Kallirroi Pouliadou Madyana Torres Regimantas Vegele
01 ABSTRACT METHODS &OVERVIEW
The goal of this project was to design a service to achieve Our team leveraged Contextual Inquiry and Participatory Science Outreach for the Climate Impact Research Centre Design, ethnographic research techniques that emphasize what people do and why they do it. During Contextual region is of high importance, as changes in the climate can Inquiry, we have learned from visitors of Abisko, using clearly be foreseen and monitored in a polar environment. and other artifacts) as prompts for conversation and learning destroyed by visitors because of ignorance or curiosity. We to represent how they feel and how they think. During aimed to trigger the visitors’ curiosity, cultivate knowledge Participatory Design, we have learned from CIRC researchers and promote action that will have an impact in their daily in the context of their work environment, using stakeholder lives. Using ethnographic research, we managed to identify maps and visitor journey maps as prompts for conversation the different types of visitors of Abisko and understand their needs. Moreover, through interviews and observations their day to day activities. we managed to understand the values of such a pursue for researchers and other stakeholders. We user-tested might help shape the science outreach in Abisko. We are concepts with different means of engagement with the end interested in how we can use interactive services to change user in focus. This report presents a service as an approach to communicate the research to the visitors of Abisko, with a factors of human behaviour). focus on families that are seeking for activities alternative to This part of the document describes why it is necessary to outdoor sports. A hiking experience, an exhibition at Naturum trigger curiosity, cultivate knowledge and promote change and tangible artefacts reveal the story of researchers in the arctic environment of Abisko. argument for active science outreach from the visitor point of view. Our insight statements are used to drive the design of a new playful and interactive service.
02 03 RESEARCH FRAMING & PERSONA FINDINGS RESEARCHERS
1/ First contact and Fight for time 4/ Manifest a positive outlook Having met the researchers of Climate Impacts Research Engaging in a non-politicised discussion about climate frame our main task of science outreach. contact with the tourists would make CIRC more noticeable change could lead to a more ‘productive outcome’. Different We saw the researchers as individuals who have a personal and spark curiosity. Furthermore, engaging visitors in their opinions should be encouraged and allowed, since investment in their research and have a lot of passion for natural activities might help avoid the need for additional questioning is seen as a measure of “good outreach”. There what they do. time planning from the tourist side. is a good way to talk about environmental awareness. That can be achieved through a celebration of science rather than rage against climate change.
“ If I never had to leave here I wouldn’t care. Yesterday I was 2/ Playful tangible interactions 6/ Stay true to the idea, but simplify the on top of the mountains snow-shoeing all day. Snowshoeing, information trail-running, skiing, biking... I mean, it’s fantastic. I mean, it’s Interactions that are ‘alive’ allow a dialogue between people, fantastic. When I was doing this work in Lund I had to travel to building a closer relationships with the subject matter and Simplicity of information is key to communicating research, other places that were nice, but here... the adventure starts as creating a passion for it. It is also easier to bridge different “if you can communicate it to children, everyone else will perspectives and discussions through tangible interactions understand it.” support up in the mountains all over. To me, honestly, it doesn’t as well as engage someone. matter how shitty the weather is, that day is still better than any in it all the time. I think that you have to have love of science of course and the love of the outdoors to do this work.” 3/ Promote collective intelligence 5/ A synergy between intellect & emotion
A ‘safe’ environment for differing ideas is essential. Visitors Facilitating an environment where personal stories can be should not feel insecure about their level of knowledge. This created is essential, since those stories are remembered and KEITH LARSON could be achieved through building personal relationships retold. Emotion and intellect in equal measures. Reaching Abisko CIRC Research engineer. or creating ‘group knowledge’, which would enable trust and soul is effective. This created sense of ownership for their stories would lead to empowering the visitors to take action or group intelligence that emerges from the collaboration, for positive ‘change’. collective efforts, and competition of many individuals).
04 RESEARCH VISITORS