Session L37: Informal Education and Public Outreach - Policy Questions

Selectively Bringing Down the Curtain on OPERA Superluminal Neutrino Papers

Picture this: instead of watching from afar the daily flow of superluminal proposals trying to explain OPERA's preliminary data, you are the PRL Editor charged with deciding what to do with each paper. How do you address the validity of a manuscript whose starting point involves circumventing Einstein? I'll discuss the general issues of controversial claims and data-driven floods of theory papers through the unusual lens of the OPERA-motivated papers. Along our ten minute journey, I'll show some interesting correspondence.   

Superluminal Neutrinos: The Good Kind of Science Controversy

After OPERA released results indicating neutrinos were traveling faster than the speed of light, a number of scientists said that the team shouldn't have prematurely engaged in ``science by press release.'' However, controversial claims like this, if handled properly, can actually be a boon to science. Getting the public interested in cutting edge physics is notoriously difficult, but the public is always interested in hearing about a controversy. The press conference and following debate becomes a great ``teaching moment'' which offers the public a unique opportunity to get an inside and in-depth look at how science works. Scientists willing to publicly engage in this kind of civil controversy are important because when other scientific controversies arise, ones with major public policy implications, the public starts out with a better understanding of how science works, and scientists have better practice managing questions from the public.   

Controversial Science and the Media

The possibility that the OPERA collaboration has detected superluminal neutrinos was among the most controversial topics in physics news in decades, and one of the most widely covered stories in all of science in 2011. Word of the research initially reached journalists and the public prior to publication in peer-reviewed journals. Understandably, many physicists are concerned that the significance of controversial science may be exaggerated or distorted when news organizations report on science at such an early stage. I will offer an overview of the ways the story was promoted by the media relations personnel, and outline the rationales that motivate media relations efforts along with the associated benefits and drawbacks that can result. Finally, I will examine the accuracy and completeness of the superluminal neutrino news stories that ultimately were made available to the general public.   

Controversial Physics: Perfect Public Outreach Opportunity

The goal of public outreach is to excite and engage the public in physics. What can be more exciting than controversy? When OPERA announced their discover of superluminal neutrinos, controversy within the physics community quickly followed. This result could overturn a century of established physics. From a public outreach perspective there was no better way to bring people usually unaware of current research into the discussion of this result. If handled well this could be used as a gateway to interest in other physics research. The public drive to learn more about this particular result can be harnessed to create interest in other cutting edge physics research and drive the public to continue their informal physics learning. If the results of OPERA and eventually proven incorrect as many physicists believe they will, that will not erase the public's new-found interest in physics but hopefully continue to fuel it.   

Informal Physics Education: Outreach from a National Laboratory

This presentation highlights strategies for K-20 teaching and learning about materials research in informal settings. The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory's Center for Integrating Research {\&} Learning is in a unique position to conduct programs that reach K-20 students and teachers. As part of a national laboratory the Center provides the infrastructure around which informal education programs are implemented, including the nationally-recognized programming as well as facilitating scientists' educational outreach in the community. Research Experiences for Undergraduates, focuses on encouraging women and other underrepresented groups to pursue STEM careers reaching approximately 200 students many of whom have pursued careers in research as well as academia. The Research Experiences for Teachers program has provided internships for over 150 teachers; the Center also reaches over 10,000 students each year through school and community outreach. Success of informal education programs relies heavily on establishing strong mentoring relationships between scientists and K-20 students and teachers. The Center's success at maintaining diverse programming that transforms how materials education is presented beyond the traditional classroom is the focus for this presentation.   

Houston, we have a problem: What the Voting Public Believes about Science Funding

In an election year with a tight Federal budget outlook, the views of the voting public are critical to forecasting what may be in store for the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy Office of Science and National Institute for Standards and Technology. It is these people who weigh in with their legislators to identify what is important and what should be cut. The results of some recent polling commissioned by the APS and other scientific societies reveal that the ge neral public may not be as supportive of Federal science funding as has been previously believed. Jodi Lieberman will present the results of that polling data and how it is likely to impact the next Federal science budget.