Engagement in Action: Communicating Climate Change Research to Non-specialist Audiences

Abstract

Antarctic science is of critical importance to climate change research and the development of better ways of understanding our possible climate futures and the challenges of a changing environment. Communicating this and related messages to non-specialist audiences is a complex task that needs to combine raising awareness, challenging misconceptions and changing behaviours. This paper presents a model for collaboration and engagement between academics, curators and educators drawing on the 2015 project Antarctic Science Today at Durham University. The project centred on an exhibition of recent Antarctic research and climate change research, and was co-curated by Culture Durham exhibitions team, Antarctica researchers working from Durham University’s Department of Geography, and the British Antarctic Survey. An associated public engagement and widening participation programme based on this research provided lectures and resources for schools and the public, and was developed in collaboration with an independent specialist provider Science 4 Schools. The paper presents a summary of the project and presents practical recommendations for similar projects engaging non-academic audiences with the impact of climate change research.