Researchers’ Science Communication Activities and Lifelong Learning: Possibilities for Modern University Extensions
2015 Volume 51 Issue 2 Pages 13-22
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2015 Volume 51 Issue 2 Pages 13-22
The aim of this study is to elucidate the benefits and issues that support local citizens’ life-long learning through the universities’ science communication activities conducted for universities and local citizens. Therefore, we regarded these universities’ activities as implementations of social education and evaluated them.
In recent times, many universities have extension courses or science cafes as part of their social action programs, and thus local citizens have great opportunities to acquire academic knowledge. The universities’ activities to explain the fruits of their research and to study with local citizens are called “science communications.” They are subjects of a new discipline that deals with the relationship between science and society.
The universities’ support of local citizens’ learning has been discussed by social education studies. Although the study of science communication concerns the universities’ activities in support of local citizens’ learning, it has not been based on results from social education studies. Therefore, we reviewed the previous studies of university extensions, and furthermore, critically evaluated the “model” of science communications.
Our results are as follows:
Science communicators should actively collaborate with the universities’ extension-course leaders. Through courses connecting academic and local knowledge with “pleasure,” science communicators would be able to re-establish the relationship between universities and local citizens. Potentially, extension courses with science communications might develop into a modern university extension venue. In fact, this would be the first step in a university becoming a center of community (COC).
Thus, the agenda is to overcome unstable conditions and organizations of both science communicators and extension-course leaders. Hence, to develop and organize both entities that assume responsibility, coordinators between local communities and universities are required.
