Novel approaches to engagement activities that use narrative and immersive environments to create cohesive experiences.
In this session we will share our insights, experiences and learning from some of the unique festival experiences created in 2013 by the Contemporary Science team at the Science Museum. These festivals ranged from narrative driven games to researchers embedded in immersive environments all creating cohesive and memorable experiences. Specific engagement examples will highlight collaborations with research groups, theatre companies and artists. This session is relevant to any organisation, centre or individual looking to engage their audiences through interactive, immersive and theatrical experiences.
Speakers: Nicola Burghall (Science Museum), Daniel Richardson (UCL), John Hunter (non zero one), Chair: Jenny Jopson (Francis Crick Institute)
16. British Science Association Conference
1st
May 2014, University of Surrey
1. Why are you doing it?
2. Have a clear message
3. How to make it memorable?
4. Your resources?
5. Your priorities?
Creating Festivals
17. British Science Association Conference
1st
May 2014, University of Surrey
Working in partnership
1. Take time to understand each other
2. Communication is key
3. Roles and Responsibilities
4. Clear and matching goals
5. Be a team
19. British Science Association Conference
1st
May 2014, University of Surrey
Breakout Brainstorm
• What challenging topics do you have coming up?
• Who could you work with?
• How might you make it memorable?
20. LIFE: A HEALTHY GAME OF
CHANCE AND CHOICE
SCIENCE MUSEUM, JUNE 2013
21. you’ll see [me sailing in antarctica],
National Theatre, 2012
My name is Nicola and I am part of the Contemporary Science team at the science museum.
In 2013 the team developed four festivals at the Science museum
Zombie Lab (Feb)
High Performance (March)
LIFE (June)
Robot Safari EU (December)
Why did we do it?
The Science Museum wants to:
Increase footfall and attract new audiences
Broaden contacts and build relationships
Scope future possibilities (as part of our strategic plan)
Create a memorable experience, that also gets some attention!
The Contemporary Science team wants to:
Engage visitors in contemporary science and dialogue
Push boundaries in innovative science communication
Tie in with the wider aims and direction of the museum
Create a fun and memorable experience
I want to:
Engage visitors with contemporary science
Help people feel that the museum is a place for them
Create enjoyable and memorable experiences
Science Museum wants to:
Increase footfall and attract new audiences
Broaden contacts and build relationships
Scope future possibilities (as part of our strategic plan)
Create a memorable experience, that also gets some attention!
Contemporary Science team wants to:
Engage visitors in contemporary science and dialogue
Push boundaries in innovative science communication
Tie in with the wider aims and direction of the museum
Create a fun and memorable experience
I want to:
Engage visitors with contemporary science
Push boundaries and explore different ways of communicating science
Help people feel that the museum is a place for them
Create enjoyable and memorable experiences
Festivals are a big challenge for the team, and after personally running two of them last year I have learned a lot. In sharing my experiences I hope you can learn from my mistakes. This is only a short introduction, so it will be an insight but if by the end of the session you still have more questions I will be happy to discuss. I would also like to point out that I realise that there are many experienced science communicators in the audience. What I am about to say may seem very obvious to you or may reinforce what you already know, or may prompt some new ideas – either way I hope you can bear with me. Through trial, error and success we have found that some of the most obvious and common sense ideas really are the most important to keep in mind.
Also point out that this is a space we will be talking about mistakes and what, in hindsight, could have made the process easier (even if the outcome was the same). Please be considerate of this!
So, will run through a few festivals, starting with Zombie Lab: