Knowledge is power: Audience preferences for engagement and learning at a science festival

Fogg Rogers, Laura

Abstract

Engagement is a two-way process, but does that interaction need to occur with every contact? Lectures have been discredited as one-way transmission, but when employed within a range of engagement formats, they may fulfill audience needs to inspire curiosity and unlock potential for further engagement. On-site surveys of a New Zealand science festival revealed that regardless of age, sex, gender or education, 77% of the adult audience was most attracted to lectures while 84% found lectures useful; significantly higher than any other format. We will discuss how engagement can occur over time, whereby knowledge acquisition improves engagement with the establishment.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: Engage 2014 - Captivating places; Captivating ideas; Captivating people: Unlocking the potential of curiosity-driven engagement
• Start Date: Dec 3, 2014
• End Date: Dec 4, 2014
• Acceptance Date: Dec 3, 2014
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 6, 2019
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: science communication, science festival
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/824119
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : Engage 2014