著者
原 塑 鈴木 貴之 坂上 雅道 横山 輝雄 信原 幸弘
出版者
北海道大学科学技術コミュニケーター養成ユニット(CoSTEP)
雑誌
科学技術コミュニケーション (ISSN:18818390)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.7, pp.105-118, 2010-02

Recently, some scientific disciplines have been politically promoted in many countries, because governments believe that they can produce economically profitable knowledge, and that neuroscience belongs to these disciplines. They are aptly characterized by Jerome Ravetz's notion of "post-normal science." It is expected that some knowledge produced by neuroscience may, when applied to the real world, influence social systems and, ultimately, our views on what it is to be human beings, even though it is difficult for us to foresee its concrete impacts. To minimize its unexpected negative effects, even non-specialists need to have neuroscience literacy, which includes not only a basic theoretical knowledge of neuroscience, but also knowledge on its social significance and possible impacts on our self-understanding as human beings. We compiled a textbook of neuroscience literacy, and used it in liberal arts education. In this article, we document our project of education on neuroscience literacy in liberal arts, and discuss its social and epistemological meaning.
著者
桂 有加子 平田 光司
出版者
北海道大学科学技術コミュニケーター養成ユニット(CoSTEP)
雑誌
科学技術コミュニケーション (ISSN:18818390)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.8, pp.3-13, 2010-12

By analyzing a TV program on the vulnerability of the Y chromosome and the possible extinct of human beings, it is shown that the program took a scientific evidence (the vulnerability of the Y chromosome) and put it in a context different from the original and academic one. The extinct of humans is not a subject of the normal science and is a type of trans-science question. Among many entertainment tools, this type of deconstruction is useful to make the program quickly understandable for non-experts. It is quite possible that the deconstruction reveals the context owned by the society. This can be unavoidable and the academy should not have right nor obligation to stop it. On the other hand, the scientists should be aware of the deconstruction mechanism of the media and the society and try to coexist with it as a different culture.
著者
敷田 麻実
出版者
北海道大学科学技術コミュニケーター養成ユニット(CoSTEP)
雑誌
科学技術コミュニケーション (ISSN:18818390)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.8, pp.27-38, 2010-12

This article proposes a Half-shift model to simultaneously achieve the mutually reinforcing goals of creative work and social contribution. Science communicators are closely examined as one of the possible conduits to implement this model. Intensifying global competition requires work places and social settings to be more efficient and less flexible, making it difficult for professionals to gain satisfaction from being creative and contributing to society through their paid work. After a closer examination, the author proposes a Half-shift model as a new way to achieve a more balanced work environment. The Half-shift model looks at combining paid work and unpaid work in conterminous areas. The research shows that the keys for promoting this model are changes in work rules and professionals' personal motivation for work. It is hoped that this article provides a conceptual framework for the development of a Half-shift model, and contributes to its implementation.
著者
八木 絵香
出版者
北海道大学科学技術コミュニケーター養成ユニット(CoSTEP)
雑誌
科学技術コミュニケーション (ISSN:18818390)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.7, pp.3-17, 2010-02

World Wide Views on Global Warming has been developed to establish a model for the future inclusion of the worlds' citizens in global policy making. It has been designed with the purpose of making it possible for potentially all nations on Earth to take part. World Wide Views on Global warming involved roughly 4,000 citizens in 38 countries in deliberations about the issues on climate change. They received the same information about climate change and were asked to give their views. The participating citizens voted on 12 multiple-choice questions and produced a large number of recommendations phrased in their own wordings. They did so on daylong meetings on September 26, 2009. Empirical observations related to effectiveness of this attempt were summarized together with discussions concerning the applicability and limitations of the proposed global-scale participatory technology assessment.
著者
山内 保典
出版者
北海道大学科学技術コミュニケーター養成ユニット(CoSTEP)
雑誌
科学技術コミュニケーション (ISSN:18818390)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.7, pp.33-48, 2010-02

Not only technology which natural science offers, but also one which social science offers can be an object of participatory technology assessment (pTA). In this paper, "World Wide Views on Global warming (WWViews)" which is the globe-encompassing democratic deliberation was assessed by citizen participants. The participants of WWViews are little interested in global warming. Therefore, their assessment is useful to develop a participatory method which can involve wider range of public. This paper is based on questionnaire survey and free description which addressed adequacy of information provision and supports for discussion, satisfaction of the WWViews and motivation to participate in other technology assessment. As a result of questionnaire, majority of participants showed a high level of satisfaction with them. Their free descriptions are grouped into five lessons. 1. Avoid the bias. 2. Give consideration to group dynamics. 3. Reduce the anxiety of making remarks. 4. Make the connection between pTA and real life. 5. Focus on satisfaction of participants.
著者
敷田 麻実
出版者
北海道大学科学技術コミュニケーター養成ユニット(CoSTEP)
雑誌
科学技術コミュニケーション (ISSN:18818390)
巻号頁・発行日
no.8, pp.27-38, 2010-12

This article proposes a Half-shift model to simultaneously achieve the mutually reinforcing goals of creative work and social contribution. Science communicators are closely examined as one of the possible conduits to implement this model. Intensifying global competition requires work places and social settings to be more efficient and less flexible, making it difficult for professionals to gain satisfaction from being creative and contributing to society through their paid work. After a closer examination, the author proposes a Half-shift model as a new way to achieve a more balanced work environment. The Half-shift model looks at combining paid work and unpaid work in conterminous areas. The research shows that the keys for promoting this model are changes in work rules and professionals' personal motivation for work. It is hoped that this article provides a conceptual framework for the development of a Half-shift model, and contributes to its implementation.
著者
永岑 光恵 楠見 孝
出版者
北海道大学科学技術コミュニケーター養成ユニット(CoSTEP)
雑誌
科学技術コミュニケーション (ISSN:18818390)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.7, pp.119-132, 2010-02

What do people know about the state-of-the-art neuroscience research and developments promoted by it? Recently it is empathized that to be educated consumers, people need to acquire neuroscience literacy (NL). What is the NL? This study investigated its components and constructed its scale. In a preliminary study, we created the NL inventory, and 274 subjects (35 working people and 239 university students) completed the NL questionnaire. An exploratory factorial analysis was conducted, and after that the questionnaire was revised for the next studies. In the first study, 240 university students completed the questionnaire. Exploratory factorial analyses extracted four factors which could be called (1) "denial of naïve knowledge," (2) "perspective on neuroscience," (3) "allowance of neuroscience research," and (4) "allowance of practical applications of neuroscience research." In the second study, we used the NL inventory and examined the effect of the NL education on 210 subjects (113 subjects had the NL education). After the NL education, the scores of (1), (2), and (3) increased, but that of (4) decreased. These results suggest that the NL education promotes neuroscientific knowledge, the allowance of neuroscience research, and attentiveness to allowing practical applications of neuroscience research.