Rejecting the Deficit Model: Taking Geoscientists on the Road to Adopt a Human-centred Approach to Public Engagement with Science
Abstract
The British Geological Survey (BGS) has a £31m project to develop two test sites to monitor and develop decarbonising subsurface energy technologies, providing the public, government and industry with independent, impartial evidence. The UK Geoenergy Observatories will be located in Cheshire, England, and in Glasgow, Scotland.
There are major challenges to acceptance in the communities of the chosen locations. These stem from fears around perceived consequences of drilling (induced seismicity and groundwater contamination) and perceived links with hydraulic fracturing plans by commercial companies. A comprehensive campaign of targeted public engagement was launched. The campaign consciously avoided the deficit model of science communication introduced by the 1985 Royal Society report 'Public Understanding of Science': adopting instead a human-centered approach. One of the problems of the deficit model is its assumption that publics need educating and persuading of the value of a particular endeavor. It prioritizes text, presentation and diagrams over understanding how motivators, values and feelings shape engagement. To connect people with the science, first we had to build trust. The engagement team set about systematically breaking down 'them and us' barriers: meeting people on their terms, at the heart of the communities in our preferred locations, at times allowing for different daily routines, and committing to continued engagement. Sessions are iterative to embed learning, responsiveness and familiarity in the campaign. The lectern and rows of seating of the didactic approach are replaced with open-space, drop-in sessions to enable free-flowing, two-way dialogue. It's critical for BGS to listen as well as to share knowledge. Everyone pitches in. Generalists, specialists, delivery staff, and directors utilize carefully-arranged pictures, giant floor maps and geological props to aid conversation. Pre and post meet briefings keep the team focused, united and human. This human-centered science communication road trip is having a transformative impact on the ability of experts to broker 'matters of concern' with 'dissonant publics … whose worries root in sense of place, trust and governance' rather than in technical confidence. (Communicating contested geoscience: Stewart & Lewis 2017)- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018AGUFMPA22C..01R
- Keywords:
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- 0815 Informal education;
- EDUCATIONDE: 4334 Disaster risk communication;
- NATURAL HAZARDSDE: 6349 General or miscellaneous;
- POLICY SCIENCESDE: 6699 General or miscellaneous;
- PUBLIC ISSUES;
- 0815 Informal education;
- EDUCATIONDE: 4334 Disaster risk communication;
- NATURAL HAZARDSDE: 6349 General or miscellaneous;
- POLICY SCIENCESDE: 6699 General or miscellaneous;
- PUBLIC ISSUES