Traditionally, sciSCREEN-type public engagement events have used cinema’s back catalogue to discuss one, usually ‘hard’ science, aspect of an explicitly science orientated film. By contrast, Cardiff sciSCREEN uses new release films from a range of genres, allowing us to use the existing publicity and public awareness to build an interest in the sciSCREEN event and attract a wider audience. Rather than merely dissecting the ‘hard’ science on show, Cardiff sciSCREEN draws on academic expertise from a wide range of disciplines to encourage critical thinking about science, society, and film.

The 'Seeking Perfection' project was set up to explore human enhancement - which provides a rich vein for public engagement, exploring issues such as boosting athletic performance, taking stimulant drugs to improve memory and using plastic surgery. The project was led by The University of Manchester, Nowgen, Contact Theatre and the Manchester Science Festival and this unique collaboration was successful in sparking the curiosity of young minds around aspects of biomedical research. The creative approaches used made this a distinctive and innovative project.

Objectives:

‘Aquascience’ is a University of Manchester outreach event run by staff from the Faculty of Life Sciences. It is designed to introduce people to issues related to the pollution of lakes and rivers. Pollution of freshwaters is an important global issue and Aquascience is designed to bring this to the attention of both school children and the general public. This allows them to engage with research currently carried out at the University and to provide a teaching and learning service to schools.

Since 1992, the University Lille 1 develops a cultural policy, dealing with the links between art, science and culture, and mobilizes the academic community along with educative, institutional and associative partners.

This policy results in :

• The setting up of a place of reflection, exchange and debate : “l’Espace Culture”
• Promotion of scientific culture
• Preservation and promotion of the scientific academic heritage
• Using traditional media as well as new technologies to reach a large audience
• Dealing with all aspects of a subject in a consistent programming during a year
• Sensitization to the most contemporary forms of arts
• Supporting the amateur practice of arts, independent or supervised by professionals
• Promoting the realization of associations’ projects

The “Espace Culture” is a 1500 square meters specific cultural complex , composed of 15 people, engaged in the cultural policy of the university. It is based in the core of the campus and opened freely to everyone.

Secondary School teachers are the key to increase the scientific level of young people. The activities developed in the last two years show that researchers and teachers collaboration can lead to design new outreach activities and have shown the importance of defining particular activities to improve teachers training.