Human Development

When the Spokes Editorial Committee decided upon this Lookout we did not imagine that by the time of its publication, museums and science centres would be closed because of the Covid-19 pandemic and that explainers would not be able to run their normal activity, that is, welcome and engage with visitors. Nevertheless, with high hopes that our lives will go back to normal sooner or later, we focus on one of the professions at the heart of our community: the explainers - or facilitators, animators, educators, médiateurs scientifiques, teaduskeskus, publieksbegeleiders, mitarbeiter ausstellungsdienst, or whichever the term used across the various countries and institutions.

We need to disrupt historical patterns of exclusion in STEM and recognise the positive social futures communities seek to build.

People with autism spend most of their lives being told what they want and what to do, so the most important step a science center can take is to talk to the people directly and listen to their experience. As autism is a lifelong condition, we should also recognize the impact we can make for adults as well as the children and young people who visit.

When it comes to personnel management in science centers and museums, there seems to be a gap; in the long run, this could lead to serious problems. This article introduces some theories of motivation that are relevant to the science engagement field, and aims to open a conversation about the way we attract, motivate, and retain personnel.

We need a break from bad news. 2020 has left us with a sense of despair and what we need at the moment are positive, enlightening and inspiring news stories. But first, let's reflect on the impact of negative news and the role emotions play in the communication of science.

We are living in uncertain times. Months after the start of the Corona pandemic, we are still finding our way amidst chaos and confusion to make sense of what happens in the reality of this moment. We just don’t know at this moment. And there are good reasons to believe we will never know, exactly.

Misinformation has existed as long as we have been communicating, but the rise of online communication in the last twenty years has led to a shift in the way information on science is shared. The current COVID-19 pandemic is providing us with even more examples of how quickly the public can be misled on crucial scientific topics. Misinformation clearly poses a threat to our democracy and its values.

Our field is moving towards a more global and more societal role, which is a sign of maturity. With maturity comes responsibility, and with responsibility comes worry; yet, with responsibility also comes empowerment. How are we going to change the world? What new tools and approaches do we need? What old habits must we shake off?