AAAS Seeks Evaluation Instruments And Reports

Want to help contribute to our growing understanding of how to evaluate public engagement with science activities? AAAS is collecting evaluation instruments and reports that will be used to identify common questions and metrics. Please share your work!

Please click on the survey link below to share evaluation instruments and/or reports that focus on outcomes associated with scientists’ interactions with the public via public engagement with science events. If you know of others who have evaluation studies of scientist interactions with the public, please forward this along to them!

http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/2343227/eb0ad2fe2979

Wondering if your work qualifies?

Public engagement with science describes intentional, meaningful interactions that provide opportunities for mutual learning between scientists and members of the public.

Goals for public engagement with science often include mutual learning (scientist and public), civic engagement skills and empowerment, increased awareness of the cultural relevance of science, and recognition of the importance of multiple perspectives and domains of knowledge (Bonney et al., 2009).  Mutual learning refers not just to the acquisition of knowledge, but also to increased familiarity with a breadth of perspectives, frames, and worldviews. Many informal science educators or institutions may also have educational learning goals for the activities.
If you have evaluation instruments or reports for these kinds of events, then please contribute!

Wondering what AAAS will you do with the information collected?

We are hoping to gather a snowball sample of evaluation reports with outcomes that focus on the scientists, the audience, or both. Once we have them collected, we plan to create a matrix that documents the methods, instruments, and results found. The matrix will be used to catalyze discussion at the AAAS Convening on Public Engagement Evaluation in December.

Wondering what’s in it for you?
We will also share our results with all who contribute and cite your work in a Reference list that is distributed with the matrix.

We are excited about what we might learn from this endeavor, and hope that you will be willing to share your work.