Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Science and craft (post on the Guardian)

This is cross-posted from my work blog, apologies to the few weirdos who read both.

Mendel's peas


There seems to be more and more events happening which I can only describe as science-craft. I thought I'd write about it, and did a post for the Guardian Science blog.

There are overlaps here with sci-art projects, just as there are overlaps (sometimes problematic ones) between arts and crafts more generally. However, I think science craft events have the potential to involve new and different communities which sci-art doesn't necessary reach, and to be more participatory in their whole project set up too.

There is the question of what you participate for exactly: what are you making? At danger of repeating myself, science communication isn't all about baking a cake shaped like a neuron. In particular, I worry that the fluffier ends of sci-craft might act as a distraction from the production of more politically controversial outcomes.

Still, we shouldn't loose sight of the use of these more playful products too. Or rather, we shouldn't ignore the power of the social interactions which surround their production. My knitting friends often laugh at me for being a 'process knitter'. I'll happily take a piece apart and re-knit it, several times. Finishing is nice. But, for me, the fun's in the doing. Similarly, I suspect much of the worth of public engagement happens in the process rather than the outcome. The various collaborative processes often involved in crafting can provide a space for people to talk through and think through ideas together. As I end the piece for the Guardian:
At a knitting evening held at Hunterian Museum a few years back, I ended up sitting next to a homeopath. As well as swapping tips on the best way to bind off for socks, we discussed our own research projects, including the ways in which they might be seen to clash, and some of the items of the history of surgery that surrounded us. Other people listened and joined in, before we all moved on to complaining about estate agents. It was polite, humorous and thoughtful. It was also pleasingly mundane; something that we’d all do well to remember a lot of science is.
To give another example, I spotted this video of a neuroscientist, Zarinah Agnew, making a giant sandcastle. She told me she wants to do it again, but as a workshop rather than a film. I like this idea, because the time spent making the sandcastle allows space for social interaction which simply watching the film might inspire, but won't necessarily do in itself.

Not all public engagement can or should have an obvious political or scientific outcome. Whether you want to open up the governance of science or increase the public understanding of science, you are unlikely to get anywhere without quite a bit of cultural change first. Playing with a bit of yarn might seem unambitious, but arguably the social interaction and reflection that comes with it can help us get there. Or this social interaction might lead us somewhere else entirely.

75 comments:

Online Generic Viagra said...

Hello...
Its a very interesting subject here you wrote. Thanks For sharing. Keep in touch...

contactos en barcelona said...

Very helpful piece of writing, much thanks for the article.

buy online percocet said...

I am very happy to find this post very useful for me, as it contains lot of information. I always prefer to read the quality content and this thing I found in you post.

muebles en majadahonda said...

The chap is completely right, and there's no skepticism.

Knitting Needle Sizes said...

Really love it! The color of the yarn as well as the creative design and the knitting styles are very good! I like knitting a variegated yarns too. This is totally overwhelming, to see such wonderful creation like this. Good Job. Can't wait to see your new knit post.

Tackle Kidney Failure Easily said...

I have been reading and looking for some information and it is amazing. I know that they are products that many people use and need, but it is funny to watch so many information about those products. Anyway your inputs for this subject are very interesting.

A Ujang Herbal said...

The information is very full of knowledge .. thanks yes

cara menyembuhkan varikokel tanpa operasi

Unknown said...

Bolakasino | Agen Bola | Agen judi Online | Agen Sbobet
Prediksi Manchester City vs Watford 29 Agustus 2015
Prediksi Manchester Aston Villa vs Sunderland 29 Agustus 2015

Unknown said...

Bolakasino | Agen Bola | Agen judi Online | Agen Sbobet
Prediksi Manchester City vs Watford 29 Agustus 2015
Prediksi Manchester Aston Villa vs Sunderland 29 Agustus 2015

RaniA said...

Obat Rematik Berkhasiat
Obat Anak Kecil Tradisional Indonesia
Resep Obat Tradisional Indonesia

Unknown said...

Dampak dan Efek Samping Operasi Batu Ginjal

Unknown said...

8 Langkah Yang Dapat Membantu Meringankan Sakit Maag
Obat Mata Berkabut Pada Anak
Cara Memperbaiki Ketidak Seimbangan Sel Otak

Unknown said...

8 Langkah Yang Dapat Membantu Meringankan Sakit Maag
Obat Mata Berkabut Pada Anak
Cara Memperbaiki Ketidak Seimbangan Sel Otak

Agen Resmi Penjualan Obat Herbal said...

Risiko Obat Mules Penyebabkan Maag Kronis
Dampak Risiko Penyakit Diabetes
<a href="http://eyesdisplay.com/bagian-ginjal-bisa-menggantikan-konven

Unknown said...

Obat Luka Agar Tidak Berbekas
Obat Gatal Di Lubang Anus Dan Sekitarnya
Gantikan Cuci Darah Dengan QnC Jelly Gamat

Rani Anggraeni said...

SemogaBermanfaat:))
11 Jenis Kanker Mematikan Yang Hanya Menyerang Wanita

Anonymous said...

Obat Batu Ginjal

Unknown said...

Kanker ovarium yakni tipe kanker yg dimulai di ovarium. Tanda-tanda Kanker Ovarium Yang Wajib Diketahui Wanita
Coba buat mengecek sektor pangkal paha, dibawah dagu, ketiak & groin Kamu. Gejala Kanker Kelenjar Getah Bening Wajib Diketahui
Limfoma yakni kanker yg muncul dalam system limfatik yg menghubungkan kelenjar getah bening noda atau semua badan. Gejala Penyakit Limfoma Yang Harus Anda Diketahui
Tanda-tanda paling umum kanker tulang di tulang belakang yakni rasa sakit di leher atau punggung. Ciri-ciri Penyakit Kanker Tulang Yang Wajib Diketahui
Kanker rahim, umumnya berjalan kepada perempuan yg mempunyai mangalami saat menopause. Gejala Kanker Rahim Yang Harus Diwaspadai Wanita

auliatisnisundari said...

Mata silinder mempunyai istilah medis astigmatism. Istilah tersebut mengacu terhadap keadaan mata yg mengalami penglihatan kabur & berbayang lantaran wujud kornea atau lensa mata tak cembung sempurna.Definisi dan Cara Pengobatan Mata Silinder
Mata yg lelah dapat mengganggu tidak sedikit aktifitas kamu.Cara Alami Mengatasi Mata yang Lelah
Glaukoma yakni penyakit mata di mana tekanan cairan dalam bola mata jadi terlampaui tinggi, maka merusak serat lembut saraf optik yg mengambil sinyal penglihatan dari mata ke otak.Makanan Sehat Untuk Penderita Glaukoma
Penyakit mata amat beraneka ragam & tak semuanya akan menular.Jenis-jenis dan Pengertian Penyakit Mata
Mata adalah salah satu sektor badan yg teramat utama. Bersama mata Kamu sanggup menonton keindahan dunia.Cara Memutihkan Mata Kuning Secara Alami

Unknown said...

Gejala Penyakit Epilepsi Yang Kamu Harus Ketahui
7 Manfaat Untuk Penyakit Refluks GERD
Dampak Merokok Menyebabkan Nyeri Lambung
Penyakit Luka Borok Dermatitis

Unknown said...

Penyebeb Penyakit Refluks GERD Saat Hamil
Gejala Penyakit Refluks Empedu
Risiko Obat Mulas Dapat Menyebabkan Jantung

Unknown said...

Obat Gagal Ginjal

Unknown said...


Obat Luka Gatal Pada Anak

Obat Radang Usus Buntu
Obat Eksim Dermatitis Yang Alami

Unknown said...

Bayi Kejang Saat Demam, Apakah Itu Tanda Penyakit Ayan

Unknown said...

Cara Membuat Seledri Untuk Ginjal

Rani inaR said...

Gangguan Kesehatan Mental Ini Sering Terjadi Pada Wanita

Tips Mudah dan Aman Cegah Telinga Berdengung said...

Tips Mudah dan Aman Cegah Telinga Berdengung

Anonymous said...

Masalah Kesehatan Anak Dengan Keterbelakangan Menatl
Gangguan Kesehatan Ini Bisa Diobati Dengan Cara Alami
Gaya Hidup Tidak Sehat Ini Bisa Sebabkan Radang Sendi
Tips Aman Dalam Memilih dan Mengkonsumsi Obat Herbal
Waspadai Tahi Lalat Yang Berujung Pada Penyakit Tumor

QnC Jelly Gamat said...

Obat Herbal Keratosis Pilaris

Obat Kanker Rahim Herbal QNC Jelly Gamat said...

Obat Kanker Rahim Herbal QNC Jelly Gamat Terima kasih semoga informasi yang kami bagikan bisa bermanfaat.

aryani fitria said...

Kanker Tulang Di Kaki Dan Tahap Pengobatannya
Disfungsi Tulang Pubis Dan Nyeri Tulang Panggul Pada Ibu Hamil
Solusi Ibu Menghadapi Anak Yang Suka Pilih-Pilih Makanan
Manfaat Luar Bias Kopi Hijau Untuk Kesehatan Tubuh Kita

Perbedaan Penyakit Asma Pada Anak Dan Orang Dewasa said...

I really like all oof the points you made.
obat liver kronis
obat polip usus besar
Penderita Penyakit Ginjal Dilarang Makan Belimbing
Tips Sehat Untuk Ibu Hamil Penderita Miom
Yoga Untuk Membantu Mencegah Hipertensi

QnC Jelly Gamat said...

Cara Membersihkan Paru Paru Dari Lendir Secara Alami
Perbedaan Sakit Maag Dan Asam Lambung Yang Wajib Kita Ketahui
Efek Samping Obat Anti Epilepsi OAE Yang Berbahaya

QnC Jelly Gamat said...

Cara Membersihkan Paru Paru Dari Lendir Secara Alami
Perbedaan Sakit Maag Dan Asam Lambung Yang Wajib Kita Ketahui
Efek Samping Obat Anti Epilepsi OAE Yang Berbahaya

Unknown said...



Obat Telinga Berdenging
Cara Pemesanan QnC Jelly Gamat
Pasta Gigi Herbal Untuk Gusi Bengkak Dan Berdarah Dengan Cepat
Obat Penyakit Kulit Impetigo

Unknown said...

Efek Kurang Minum Air Putih Bagi Ginjal
Dampak Hipertensi Saat Kehamilan Dan Solusi Pengobatan Terbaik
Efek Samping Pasca Keguguran Tanpa Kuret

Anonymous said...

Obat Miom Paling Mujarab Tanpa Operasi

Kami memiliki solusi alami dan tepat tanpa efek samping untuk membantu mengobati keluhan sakit yang miom yang Anda derita. Kandungan yang terdapat di dalamnya mampu menghasilkan khasiat yang luar biasa untuk membantu mengatasi miom hingga tuntas.

Obat Pelunak Feses Untuk Bayi said...

Cara obati berbagai penyakitObat Pelunak Feses Untuk Bayi
Obat Gatal Gatal Di Kemaluan Laki Laki
Obat Tinea Cruris Paling Ampuh
terbaik di jaman nya
Obat Kanker Kelenjar Getah Bening Untuk Ibu Hamil

jellygamatt said...

Ada Banyak Manfaat Dari Kulit Pisang
Obat Herbal Untuk Mengecilkan Perut Buncit
Penyebab Rambut Rusak & Cara Mengatasinya
Cara Merawat Kecantikan Kulit Wajah Alami
Ternyata Inilah Penyebab Sakit Telinga

Unknown said...

Pantangan Makanan Untuk Penyakit Gondok

Unknown said...

What a brilliant way to demonstrate your writing skills with great presentation to show the world that you have the right amount of talent in the relevant field. After reading your post I am pretty sure that the audience will easily relate to your blog as it was somehow related to their lives. So keep posting stuff like these and hope to see more from you in the future.
Textile Industry Analysis

Unknown said...

Amazing blog and I am really glad that I have come across to your blog you have covered the very interesting topic in you blog which most of the writers tries to avoid but you show the courage to go on with and pulled it off brilliantly.
Latest Trends in Art

Unknown said...

Makanan Sehat Untuk Penderita Radang Usus
Manfaat Buah Murbie Untuk Ginjal

Unknown said...

Riddle School is one of the top quality puzzle games in which you will control a student in order to run away from the school to fight against aliens. This is the third game of the series and in case you are a fan of puzzle games then you are going to love this game a lot. You have to use your practical intelligence as well as collect items from the school in order to find your way to the freedom. You will start in a class where the teacher is teaching and your first mission is to leave the class.

http://www.6zar.com/adventure-games/riddle-school.html


riddle school game

Unknown said...

Riddle School 2 is a puzzle game in which you need to reach to exit in a school. In case you have played the previous versions of the game then you already know the logic but for those who don’t know let us provide a brief information. You are a student who fights against the aliens and you have to skip your class in order to keep fighting with them. This series of the game starts in a music class and you need to find your way to the hall by using various equipment you will find in your adventure.

http://www.6zar.com/adventure-games/riddle-school-2.html

riddle school 2

Unknown said...

Riddle School 5 is the latest game of the series which are considered as a puzzle game. However, you will be controlling a character in the game in which you are going to escape from a prison. Unlike the previous versions of the game, you will be controlling a grown up character and you need to break out from your room in order to save your friends. You will face with the aliens who threaten the world and give an end to this adventure by protecting the world from these aliens. If you are fond of puzzle games, you will love this!

http://www.6zar.com/adventure-games/riddle-school-5.html

riddle school 5

Unknown said...

sports games

http://www.6zar.com/sports-games/

If you do not like to give up playing sports and sports games you can find hundreds of sports games prepared for you in this section. Contentious football games, basketball games and a lot more challenging game.

sports games

Unknown said...

Shooting Games

http://www.6zar.com/shooting-games/

Shooting Games - The beautiful and most popular shooting games are games portal 6zar

Shooting Games

Unknown said...

Painting Games

http://www.6zar.com/painting-games/

Painting Games - 6zar online free games is a great place to play Painting Games.

Painting Games

Unknown said...

Online Games

http://www.6zar.com/online-games/

Online Games - Play the most played and most new games online.

Online Games

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Cara Mengobati Kanker Ginjal Secara Alami

Unknown said...

Apakah Penyakit Lupus Berbahaya dan Menular

Anne Frank said...

Great post! thanks for sharing with us.
400 pound loan

Admin said...

If you have a history of illness that is difficult to recover, maybe our next article will help you to recover

Agen Resmi QnC Jelly Gamat di Aceh
Obat Gatal Untuk Ibu Hamil
Cara Mengatasi Anemia
Cara Mengatasi Sariawan

Unknown said...

Thanks for a great such a nice one information.this is a great blog and good job.
Visit us: Cosmetic Surgery Clinic in Delhi

Obiuser said...

very interesting information, I really like it because it can add insight for me more broadly, thank you very much for this
extraordinary information
Cara Menghilangkan Bercak Putih Seperti Panu Di Wajah, Walatra Propolis Brazil With Nano Teknologi, obat tbc tradisional, obat tukak lambung tradisional, cara mengatasi syaraf yang kejepit tanpa operasi, obat ginjal bocor tradisional

Unknown said...

While there are numerous advantages to that, you can likewise keep running into a couple of obstacles, similar to what to do about getting your cash quickly on payday. check cashing san diego

Anne Frank said...

You’ve got some interesting points in this article. I would have never considered any of these if I didn’t come across this. Thanks!!!
Visit us: Affordable SEO Packages

nidasara said...

what is the zenegra 100 mg side effects which can affect the commonly?

Unknown said...

Buy Vigora 100 Online Order Cheap Vigora

Unknown said...

Buy Vigora 100 Online Order Cheap Vigora

Unknown said...

buy BigFun 100mg sale online from the USA

medy medypharma said...

Buy Pomalid 4mg Online is the 1st generic version of the drug Pomalidomide. Pomalidomide is classified as an "immunomodulatory agent with antineoplastic activity," and an "anti-angiogenic agent." It is manufactured by Natco Pharma Limited that is one of the most reputed Indian pharmaceutical companies. Pomalid is a prescription oncology medicine that can be purchased by a patient only against a valid prescription of a healthcare professional like hematologist or oncologist."

Mix Parlay said...

Prediksi Bola dan Togel
Bola Online
Mix Parlay
Bola Jalan
Bandar Bola

Health Online said...

SUHAGRA FORCE 50 MGis a brilliant mixture of Dapoxetine and Sildenafil, it is ready to inculcate tremendous joy in men suffering from impotence (ED) and premature ejaculation

Marina Barbosa said...

Tripoker, agen poker berbasis online hadir dengan 7 permainan live yang saat ini bisa dimainkan dengan menggunakan pulsa XL dan Telkomsel. Seluruh game juga telah dilengkapi dengan bonus turnover harian dan mingguan yang tentu saja dapat memperbesar keuntungan anda.

Akun Tripoker yang asli hanya bisa anda dapatkan secara gratis melalui situs resmi Tripoker. Berikut ini adalah beberapa link Tripoker dimana anda bisa mendapatkan akun resmi.
IDN POKER77
agen idn poker777
Daftar Poker77
daftar idn poker77
daftar poker 77 pakai pulsa
Aplikasi IDN poker77
link download aplikasi idn poker77
download aplikasi idn poker77
idn poker77 deposit pulsa
poker deposit via pulsa
poker deposit pulsa
idn poker77 deposit pakai pulsa
login idn poker77
cara login poker77
cara login idn poker77
idn poker777
idn play poker777

Srishti Verma said...

Very nice article, Keep posting, best wishes from India. Please help me also can you check my page and let mek now is there any correction needed or help me give some tips: best camera smartphone in india

Srishti Verma said...

Awesome, everything is good, all about the knowledge, Thanks for sharing such a nice thing, keep posting.

himachal travel guide

Akansha said...

wow, nice information and such a nice information, i will definately share this blog with my friend.

rajasthan tour package from mumbai

Ascent World said...

Enjoyed reading the article above, really explains everything in detail, the article is very interesting and effective. Thank you and good luck for the upcoming articles. Check this out

ISO 9001 Certification

Akansha said...

Thanks for sharing such a nice information on your blog page

buy best protein powder

IDN Poker online said...

Bagi anda yang sudah mengetahui apa saja yang ada di situs judi poker online, dimana untuk memainkan permainannya poker uang asli harus situs yang sudah di percaya oleh Provider IDN Poker yaitu pokerseleb, situs judi poker online ini merupakan yang terbaik, karena dengan lengkapnya permainan yang disediakan dan modal bermain yang sangat terjangkau, dan pastinya tidak ketinggalan juga bonus nya yang berlimpah https://detsad10.by/forums/users/idnpokerterbaik

Tarp said...

Poly Tarps

Poly Tarps

Lokoka said...

Thank for sharing good knowledge about science check my links