Life: controversial issues and biodiversity preservation
Find this session's presentations here.
Life is everywhere! However, many European citizens are not aware of biodiversity loss as one of the major global environmental problems and of the urgent need of preserving biodiversity and having healthy environments. Moreover, solutions to deal with this problem are frequently controversial and debatable.
Science centres and museums can have a great role in this regard, by promoting discussion and bridging life science research with stakeholders and the public. We will discuss the role of science centres and the use of different approaches when addressing these issues. Examples include the crowd production (co-production) of exhibitions on controversial topics, or field activities with schools and the general public in sensitive protected areas: essential for conservation but with potential impacts and subject to conflicts.
Session speakers
Protected areas can be implemented aiming at preserving biodiversity. But protection can be controversial when these sensitive areas are subject to multiple uses and conflicts. In order to reduce impacts, human uses must be limited; on the other hand, visits with the public to these areas are important. I will share our experience with field activities with schools and the public in a protected area, as a tool to increase public awareness on the need to preserve biodiversity and reduce conflicts.
Technical Manager-Aquarium Finisterrae
Crowdproduction of exhibits: A way of incorporating public opinion into the science center
In March 2014, the Aquarium Finisterrae inaugurated an exhibition on aquaculture that, through different projects and executions, managed to involve thousands of schoolchildren in the development and production of a new exhibition on a controversial marine issue.
Public participation in the exhibition on aquaculture was conducted through the contest "Put a cow at the aquarium”. Schoolchildren were asked to submit designs to decorate the “cow of the aquaculture”, the main module of the exhibition and an icon of modern aquatic crops. We received more than 3,000 designs.
The project was in line with previous productions of the Science Museums of Corunna that also sought public participation. Trough crowdproduction we learned that it is possible to trust the social community to produce interactive exhibits related to controversial issues.
Exhibition on Ocean and controversial topics:
As we decided to create an exhibition with the participation of different actors, we were aware that some of the topics and the displays could not be shared and accepted by all. Topics like the display of living animals for educational purpose, the fishery management, the protection and the regulation of human activities in marine reserves, the change of people attitude give rise to frequent discussions, that we try to manage with public meetings and activities.
