Sharing Science at Fairs and Festivals - Biotechnology Workshop

December 4, 2002 Biotechnology WorkshopBiotechnology WorkshopIAFE Annual ConferenceIAFE Annual Conference

Sharing Biotechnology at Sharing Biotechnology at Fairs & ExpositionsFairs & Expositions

International Association of Fairs & Expositions

December 4, 2002

Tom ZinnenBiotechnology Policy & OutreachUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison&University of Wisconsin-Extension


To EducateTo Educate

To InformTo Inform

To EntertainTo Entertain

IAFE Missions:IAFE Missions:


Biotechnology Is Biotechnology Is ControversialControversial

Biotechnology is changing how we look at life and how we lead our lives.

It’s about our bodies, our families, our land, our sense of right and wrong.


Biotechnology is Biotechnology is ControversialControversial

• Its controversial nature makes it an opportunity for learning

• and for what Cooperative Extension folks call “engagement”.


Inform & Entertain:Inform & Entertain:

• It’s also an opportunity for some fun with science.


• Our Mission at BioTrek: – Sharing Science with

Wisconsin

• Our Goal: – Transforming How People

View & Do Science

• Our Objective: – Enabling People to Use

Science Better in Making Personal Choices & Public Policies


At BioTrek, we ask:At BioTrek, we ask:

• What is science?• How is science different

from other ways of knowing?

• Is science about answering “What do you know?”

• Or is science more about asking “How do you know that? Show that? Test that?”


•What makes a good experiment?•What makes a good experiment better?


Here’s what we Here’s what we avoid:avoid:

• Explainaholism


We embrace We embrace Exploration.Exploration.

• What’s the Difference Between a Problem and a Puzzle?

• We Present Parables, Puzzles, & Paradoxes


What we do:What we do:

• Tours & Workshops at the Biotechnology Center on Campus

• Hands-on Science Workshops Anywhere in Wisconsin

• Website of Resources: http://www.biotech.wisc.edu/Education


Special Events:Special Events:

• Farm Progress Days• UW Day at the Wisconsin State Fair• Campus Open House• Family Science Nights• UW On the Road• Future Fair


Here’s where we do Here’s where we do Special Events: Special Events:

• In a Tent in an Alfalfa Field• In the UW Stock Pavilion• In a school gymnasium• At museums• In convention centers


We work with: We work with:

• Flow-by audiences

• Family groups

• Small mixed groups

• Clumps of students


We collaborate with:We collaborate with:

• Our staffOur staff• Extension colleaguesExtension colleagues• Adult volunteersAdult volunteers• Youth volunteersYouth volunteers• University researchersUniversity researchers• Children of University Children of University

researchersresearchers


We do two types of We do two types of Exploration Stations:Exploration Stations:

1. Hands-on Exploration Stations

2. ReSearch Exploration

Stations


Both Require An Both Require An Engaging PersonEngaging Person

• A Puzzle Giver for Hands-on Exploration A Puzzle Giver for Hands-on Exploration

StationsStations

• A Researcher for ReSearch Exploration A Researcher for ReSearch Exploration

StationsStations

• This is the strength, and this is the This is the strength, and this is the

weakness, of the Exploration Stations weakness, of the Exploration Stations

model.model.


Exploration Stations:Exploration Stations:

• Our competition at Farm Progress Days, at UW Day at the Wisconsin State Fair, and at other Special Events are not passive museum-type exhibits.

• The competition is the people who staff the other booths and exhibits and activities.

• No kiosk can compete with a Live Person.


Hands-on Exploration Hands-on Exploration Stations:Stations:

• Extracting DNA from Wheat Extracting DNA from Wheat

GermGerm


Hands-on Exploration Hands-on Exploration StationsStations

• Using a $200 Micropipette: Using a $200 Micropipette: Learning to Measure & Move a Learning to Measure & Move a Millionth of a LiterMillionth of a Liter



• The Glo Germ Handwashing

Challenge



• Manduca Life CycleManduca Life Cycle


ReSearch Exploration ReSearch Exploration Stations:Stations:

• Alfalfa• Arabidopsis in Space• C. elegans: The See-through Worm of

Insight• Zebrafish: From Fry to Fish in a Flash• Colorful Carrots• Gene Screening: Wisconsin Newborn

Screening Program


ReSearch Exploration ReSearch Exploration StationsStations


ReSearcReSearch h

ExploratiExploration on

StationsStations::


ReSearcReSearch h ExploratiExploration on Stations:Stations:


ReSearch Exploration ReSearch Exploration Stations:Stations:

Gene Screening: Gene Screening: Wisconsin Newborn Wisconsin Newborn Screening ProgramScreening Program


We work with the We work with the press to amplify our press to amplify our

impact:impact:Press conference a month before

Farm Progress DaysWisconsin Public Radio call-in shows

a week before special eventsNewspaper and Radio coverage on

the first of three days of Farm Progress Days


Some things we Some things we haven’t figured out haven’t figured out

how to do yet:how to do yet:• Ethics in Under Five Minutes

• Scheduled talks

• Learner-driven computer-based interactive exhibits

• Evaluation of satisfaction

• Evaluation of transformation


On the horizon:On the horizon:• Genomics• Proteomics• Stem Cells• Drug Development• Designer Foods• Industrial Feedstocks from Crops• Bioterrorism• Invasive Species• Diatoms: Nanotechnology Driven by

Microbial Savvy


Benefits to your Benefits to your clients:clients:

• Science Savvy– Enabling people to use science better

in making personal choices and publicpolicies

– Awareness and insight into ethical analyses of current and upcomingtechnologies.


Benefits to you:Benefits to you:

• Relevance through Being at the

Edge

• Working with Researchers and

Outreachers to Engage Your

Visitors


• Contact information:

• Tom Zinnen• Biotechnology Policy & Outreach• 425 Henry Mall• Madison, WI 53706• 608 265 2420• [email protected]• www.biotech.wisc.edu/Education

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.biotech.wisc.edu/Education

Sharing Science at Fairs and Festivals - Biotechnology Workshop

Education

Transcript of Sharing Science at Fairs and Festivals - Biotechnology Workshop