Hosted by SALL , contributed by echaniot on 21 December 2022
Background
Modern Science, especially in the field of Physics of the very small (High Energy Physics) or the very large (Astrophysics, Gravitation, Cosmology) as well as their interface (Astroparticle Physics), progresses through the operation of public funded large research infrastructures by international collaborations of scientists, engineers, students and technicians.
Such infrastructures are the CERN accelerator complex, the Virgo Gravitational Wave Detector, the Pierre Auger Observatory etc.
However, despite the great education and outreach efforts taking place at an institutional, national and international level, a gap exists between the highly sophisticated nature of the research in question and the understanding of this research by society. Some of the reasons behind this gap could be: The lack of proper communication of research findings to the public by the scientists; the lack of inclusion of advanced scientific topics such as these in school curricula; the lack of active engagement of citizens in scientific research; the lack of funding and recognition of researchers’ education and outreach work which discourages them from investing effort in public engagement; the lack of trust in science, its culture and its institutions by society at large; the lack of established education and outreach channels which will provide training and support to teachers, students, citizens and facilitate the two way connection between research and society.
This gap, in turn, might make citizens susceptible to the lure of pseudoscience and might fuel the emergence of fringe and conspiracy theories. In order to help understand better this gap and help bring cutting edge scientific research closer to your school and to your local society, the SALL project with the support of the FRONTIERS (www.frontiers-project.eu) network created the FRONTIERS Living Lab. The lab invites you to prepare your own solutions which you will present to your local society and engage them in a productive dialogue.
The gap between research infrastructures and society and the foreseen role of the FRONTIERS Living Lab
Aim
The broad goal of the FRONTIERS Living Lab is to contribute to a more scientifically literate society in general. To achieve that we need to understand better how science works, how it impacts our life and society and how misconceptions and misunderstandings can contribute to pseudoscientific beliefs.
The specific aims of the FRONTIERS Living Lab are: to help identify and debunk conspiracy theories, understand and explain how science works in contrast to pseudoscience, understand and help explain the impacts and relevance of large research infrastructures to technology, society and our civilization in general.
Co-creation with societal actors
The FRONTIERS Living Lab brings together expertise from the fields of High Energy Physics, Gravitational Wave Astronomy, Astroparticle Physics and Astrophysics as well as education research, science communication, open schooling and Citizen Science. The student projects will be supported by researchers, engineers and specialists connected with the FRONTIERS network and links to the local civic society will be established with the support of the team.
Implementation
The projects developed under the FRONTIERS Living Lab accelerator are centered around the scientific fields of: High Energy Physics, Gravitational Wave Astronomy, Astroparticle Physics and Astrophysics. For each of these scientific fields, three broad categories of topics are being proposed for the design of the living lab projects: Topic 1: Conspiracy Theories; Topic 2: What have Large Research Infrastructures in Physics done for us; and Topic 3: Science versus pseudoscience.
Each topic corresponds to a specific problem that you will need to fill in your project in the SALL portal. Therefore, your projects should clearly identify the Scientific Field and the topic you decide to work on.
Topic 1: Conspiracy theories
Problem: There are citizens who believe in conspiracy theories
Description: A conspiracy theory is the belief that certain events or situations are secretly manipulated behind the scenes by powerful forces with negative intent. The field of modern Physics, due to its difficulty and sophistication as well as the possibility to ignite some people’s vivid imagination has been the playground of many conspiracy theories. For a set of guidelines on what a conspiracy theory is and how to identify it you can look here.
Aim: To identify and debunk a conspiracy theory in one of the scientific fields described before and communicate your work to your local community through a video and a dedicated event.
Useful resources: You can find some suggested reading and examples of conspiracy theories related to the FRONTIERS Living Lab here.
Topic 2 What have large research infrastructures in Physics done for us?
Problem: Society is not familiar with the impact of Large Research Infrastructures to Society and question the need to fund such institutions.
Description: One of the core differences between ancient and modern science is the authorship of the discoveries. While in the past, for example during the time of Galileo, a motivated individual with a telescope could change the way we perceive the world, nowadays, research in fundamental Physics progresses through international collaborations that design and operate highly sophisticated, usually public funded, Large Research Infrastructures (such as CERN, EGO-Virgo, KM3NeT and others). This characteristic derives from a need inherent to the very nature of the experiments in question: besides the high sophistication of the experimental equipment required to increase the discovery potential of a frontier Physics experiment, the size of the experiment is of paramount importance. As the scale and sophistication of an experiment increases, the need of collaboration becomes of utmost importance for the pursuit of scientific knowledge. These International Scientific Laboratories bring together people from all over the world, sometimes from countries that are in conflict. These people work together peacefully, animated by the same passion for knowledge in pursuit of common goals. Fundamental research has the potential to bridge gap between cultures, break down barriers and nurture the young generation in a respectful and tolerant environment that values diversity and inclusiveness. Beyond the scientific value and their worth as an integral part of our culture, Large Research Infrastructures produce new technologies and solutions that can be applied to industry and society.
Aim: To identify examples of what Large Research Infrastructures in Physics have done for us and communicate your work to your local community through a video and a dedicated event.
Useful resources: You can find some suggested reading and examples of conspiracy theories related to the FRONTIERS Living Lab here.
Topic 3 Science versus pseudoscience
Problem: Many citizens adopt pseudoscientific beliefs
Description: What is the difference between Science and pseudoscience? How many people adopt pseudoscientific beliefs and what can science do to change that? Many citizens have fallen or can easily fall prey to the lure of pseudoscience which spawns anti-intellectual beliefs and attitudes. According to research, higher scientific literacy can lower an individual’s susceptibility to anti-intellectual beliefs such anti-vaccination, astrology, opening of inter-dimensional portals through experiments such as those carried out at CERN, quantum cognition, UFO abduction scenarios, or faith healing to list a few.
Aim: To identify pseudoscientific beliefs in the scientific fields proposed in the FRONTIERS Living Lab, contrast them with science and communicate your work to your local community through a video and a dedicated event.
Useful resources: You can find some suggested reading and examples of science versus pseudoscience related to the FRONTIERS Living Lab here.
How do I design my project?
Based on the scientific subjects and topic categories highlighted above, you are invited to submit your own SALL project. To learn more about how you design and upload your SALL project check here.
You can receive immediate support by contacting us directly at info[at]frontiers-project.eu
How can I get more information about FRONTIERS?
Join our website: www.frontiers-project.eu
Join the REINFORCE website: www.reinforceeu.eu
Join us on social media: www.facebook.com/frontierseu
Contact us at: info[at]frontiers-project.eu
Reflection
Students submitting their projects will be asked to reflect on what they have learned through dedicated questionnaires.
Futurel Plans
The student projects and videos will be disseminated through the FRONTIERS and SALL projects' communication channels and students will have the opportunity to participate in follow-up activities and events.