The Science Online conference is on my bucket list due to the amazing people who attend every year. It’s taking place in North Carolina at the end of January but for those of us who can’t make it, all hope is not lost as there is a watch party taking place in Dublin.
This is the 7th annual conference which lures all the best explorers of science online into one room for four days. I was amazed to get a ticket earlier this year but due to my crazy conference schedule, I had to decline this time around… hopefully I will be as lucky next year!
The Science Gallery have saved the day as they are hosting the Dublin Watch Party *cue superhero music*. Niamh Shaw spotted this opportunity and suggested it on Twitter, an idea which was quickly seconded by moi and picked up by the wonderful Science Gallery team.
Admission is FREE and there will be two live streamed events and one screening with lots of fun and discussion afterwards (details below).
If you can’t come along to the Dublin Watch Party, I’d recommend you follow #Scio13 from 31 January to 02 February as there will be lots of interesting updates from attendees.
Finally, one last reason why I love this conference so much… They highlight a number of books each year and they have chosen A Neutron Walk Into A Bar to be one of the titles you can browse through, discuss and review. Amazing! The full list includes The Geek Manifesto, The Best Science Writing Online 2012 and Science Ink. It’s definitely an honour to be amongst them..
Dublin Watch Party – Science Gallery
Thursday 31st January @ 3:30 – 5:00 pm
LIVE STREAM – Narrative: What is it? How do science writers use it?
Moderators: T. Delene Beeland (The Secret World of Red Wolves), David Dobbs (New York Times, National Geographic)
“Most would agree that The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a story — two or three, in fact, woven into a single fine narrative. Yet we might argue over whether, say, Richard Dawkins’ brilliant description of the rise of the “replicator” (the first gene) also constitutes a narrative; or whether a narrative requires people; or whether narrative can be driven mainly by ideas. In this session we hope to demystify what narrative is so we can better discuss how to create it.”
Friday 1st February @ 1:00 – 3:30 pm
SCREENING – Why won’t the science deficit model die?
Moderators: John Bruno (SeaMonster), Liz Neeley (COMPASSonline)
“The deficit model of science is the idea that the public has a “knowledge deficit” that affects perceptions of science and scientists. The model thus assumes that science communicators can change attitudes towards science, environmental issues, etc and affect by providing more information.”
Friday 1st February @ 3:30 – 5:00 pm
LIVE STREAM – Formal science education, informal science education, and science writing
Moderators: Emily Finke (This View of Life), Marie-Claire Shanahan (Boundary Vision)
“These three fields are distinct entities, with their own training, traditions, audiences and goals, but must they be as separate as they are? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each field and what can we learn from each other? With a shared goal of encouraging scientific understanding and literacy, we’ll explore the ways teachers, science writers, museum educators and more can work together.”
Science Calling! 
Good stuff, Maria.