As part of the course "Scripting Scientific Information" led by Laura Schlenker, Master’s students in Communication and Scientific and Technical Culture (CCST) from Grenoble ventured into the field to develop a scientific mediation project sponsored by the Eureka Gallery and the researchers from BY EDITH.
The course took place over four days, from September 9 to 12, in the form of a hackathon based on the design sprint method. The students visited the Eureka Gallery in Chambéry, where they met geographers from the EDYTEM laboratory, who presented their research project on mining in Namibia. This topic raises multiple issues that extend beyond the prospecting of semi-precious stones found in luxury jewelry stores worldwide. How can we promote and disseminate this fascinating research? This is the challenge that the CCST students undertook by designing innovative scientific mediation tools!
Day 1 – The Discovery 🗺️
From the project’s early hours, it became clear that each of us shares a special connection with stones. This realization drew the subject closer to Namibia, making it feel more intimate and accessible, despite its geographic distance. The next challenge was how to connect this topic to the Eureka Gallery. But what exactly is this gallery? This cultural venue hosts various exhibitions highlighting scientific themes, particularly related to the surrounding mountains, catering to all audiences. Jean-Yves Maugendre, the director of the Eureka Gallery, presented the challenges of this space and issued a clear directive: to make the research from the EDYTEM laboratory on mining in Namibia comprehensible to a family audience.
To put this into practice, we formed teams, and thus the Kimberlites team was born! Our team comprised Lisa Binoche, Aurore Delclos, Fabien Richard, and Juliette Robert-Soriano. Our mission was to create an innovative, original, and educational scientific mediation system based primarily on user needs.
In the afternoon, after an in-depth presentation of the work conducted by the researchers, we became aware of the subject’s complexity. They emphasized the unique political, socio-economic, and environmental context of the region, which is a critical element to consider in our mediation project, for sure! Now, we needed to define our work problem and would reconvene on Day 2.
Day 2 – Ideation 💡
New challenge! Armed with post-its and markers, we activated our creativity and productivity.
Before narrowing our focus on the current project, we reviewed the productions of previous cohorts to understand the expectations of a design sprint better. This work helped identify a central theme articulated in the following problem: How does the extraction of semi-precious stones in Namibia raise social, ecological, and economic issues?
We began brainstorming ideas for our presentation format. Numerous suggestions were offered, and four major concepts emerged from our collective discussions: the earthen bin, a photo report, an immersive tunnel, and a board game. The decision was tough; we had to show flexibility and sometimes set aside ideas we were passionate about.
Projects were assigned to each team, and we were tasked with conceptualizing the earthen bin, along with a complementary exhibition that would address all the issues underlying Namibian mining and present an awareness-raising vision for our project.
Finally, a concluding session in the gallery allowed us to visualize the space our device could occupy. We aimed to envision where the excavation bin and the rest of the exhibition could be positioned in one of the gallery’s exhibition rooms.
All that remained was to implement this ambitious system aimed at offering a multi-sensory experience: this was the challenge for Day 3!
Day 3 – Prototyping 🚧
Prototyping was on the agenda: it was time to create an appealing earth container along with its supplementary exhibition!
Back at the ICM, we began the day with a collective exercise to foster a positive work dynamic and promote good cohesion within our group. The goal was to cultivate an atmosphere of mutual acceptance. Then we kicked off the prototyping session!
We got our hands dirty and considered ways to present a credible overview of the dig tank. We could reference devices of a similar nature, such as the exhibition "Gaulois, a Stunning Experience" at the Cité des Sciences or the presentation materials for a traveling exhibition entitled "Archéo, an Exhibition to Dig." Additionally, we contacted Emmanuel Laisné, project manager at Science Territory, who shared his experiences. Having designed a similar scientific mediation system centered around excavation, his insights helped us structure our ideas and anticipate the challenges related to public participation.
We divided our tasks:
🎨 Fabien and Aurore focused on creating mood boards—one for the exhibition and another for the soil bin. Their creation allowed us to visually project ourselves, harmonize our aesthetic and practical ideas, and aid in material selection for prototyping.
✍🏻 Juliette and Lisa were responsible for drafting the scenarios that would structure our ideas and our final presentation.
Once our work came together, we decided to take action! Aurore crafted signs simulating an entrance to a mining area, while Juliette and Fabien created cardboard models of the Namibian mountains that would be featured in the earthen bin. Meanwhile, Lisa gathered materials necessary for prototyping the earthen tray. Upon her return, we collaborated to develop a substrate in which to dig for a semi-precious stone, thereby simulating the mining experience.
Always aiming to offer an immersive experience, Fabien and Aurore recorded an audio testimony from a Namibian worker, who explained his journey into mining to improve his living standards. This recording invites visitors to don headphones and experience a personal narrative. This way, the audience gains perspective on the experience of digging in the tank: the stone isn’t merely for contemplation; it carries a story to be heard!
After a day filled with hard work, we concluded for the day, but another challenge was already on the horizon: presenting the successful project we had worked on over the past three days!
Day 4 – The Culmination! ⌛️
The final day had arrived!
The teams set up prototypes of the different devices they had envisioned. These would serve as visual aids for the final oral presentation scheduled for the afternoon. This presentation would be evaluated by the director of the Eureka Gallery, participating EDYTEM scientists, Mikaël Chambru, and Laura Schlenker.
To prepare for the presentation, the teams wrote a common script and proceeded to organize the sequence of oral presentations. For the Kimberlites, we incorporated a voice-over describing the system, narrated by Fabien, along with three characters for a dramatic element—Juliette as a scientific mediator, and Lisa and Aurore as a grandmother and grandson. We practiced until late morning. Then, it was time for the project presentation!
Among the audience were the M1 CCST students, who were engaged and delighted by the design sprint work accomplished by the second-year students. The final oral session went exceptionally well, and all the teams successfully showcased their systems in overall harmony. The feedback received on the collaborative project was very positive! Perhaps we will see the students’ devices displayed in a future exhibition at the Eureka Gallery. ☺️
Article written by Lisa Binoche, Aurore Delclos, Fabien Richard, & Juliette Robert-Soriano.
Innovative Scientific Mediation Project at Eureka Gallery
Understanding the Course: Scripting Scientific Information
As part of the course “scripting scientific information” held by Laura Schlenker, students from the Master 2 in Communication and Scientific and Technical Culture (CCST) from Grenoble participated in an exciting field project. Sponsored by the Eureka Gallery and the researchers of the EDYTEM laboratory, this initiative focused on developing a scientific mediation project centered around important research on mining in Namibia.
Hackathon Experience: Unfolding Creativity
The course spanned four days, from September 9 to 12, structured as a hackathon employing the design sprint method. Participants traveled to the Eureka Gallery in Chambéry where they engaged with geographers from the EDYTEM laboratory, who shared insights into their research project involving the mining of semi-precious stones in Namibia.
Day 1 – The Discovery 🗺️
The first day was all about exploring and discovering the subject at hand. It became apparent that stones hold a special significance for everyone involved, transcending the geographical distance to Namibia. The Eureka Gallery, a cultural venue showcasing scientific themes related to the surrounding mountains, aimed to present this intricate research in a manner that is appealing to families.
Jean-Yves Maugendre, the gallery’s director, set the stage for the project, emphasizing the need to make the geographers’ findings accessible. The CCST students formed teams, with one budding group – the Kimberlites team – comprising Lisa Binoche, Aurore Delclos, Fabien Richard, and Juliette Robert-Soriano – tasked with creating an engaging scientific mediation system focused on users’ needs.
Initial Challenges
The researchers highlighted the complexities of the Namibian mining context, underlining the political, socio-economic, and environmental aspects that must be communicated effectively. This laid the foundation for further exploration in the upcoming days.
Day 2 – Ideation 💡
On the second day, the students activated their creativity, armed with post-its and markers. Consulting previous projects helped them understand the design sprint expectations. With a focus on the intricate issues raised by Namibian mining, they honed in on the main question: How does mining of semi-precious stones in Namibia raise significant social, ecological, and economic issues?
Brainstorming and Proposal Development
Multiple ideas flowed through the group, leading to four major concepts: the earthen bin, a photo report, an immersive tunnel, and a board game. Through collective discussion, they decided to develop the earth bin and design a complementary exhibition to address all facets of mining issues in Namibia.
Day 3 – Prototyping 🚧
Prototyping kicked off with a group exercise aimed at fostering positive dynamics and strengthening team bonds. Using hands-on techniques, they created a mock-up of the earthen bin and its accompanying exhibition. The challenge was to present an engaging overview of the project while referencing successful past exhibitions.
Collaboration and Structure
Tasks were divided among team members:
- Fabien and Aurore focused on creating moodboards to ensure visual consistency.
- Juliette and Lisa wrote scenarios for their final presentation.
Creativity flourished with Juliette, Fabien, and Lisa working on constructing the mining simulation area, crafting props to mimic Namibia’s mountainous terrain, and designing signs to emulate an authentic mining environment. Additionally, they incorporated an audio element featuring a poignant testimony from a Namibian worker, adding depth and personal connection to the experience.
Day 4 – The Culmination ⌛️
The final day involved setting up the prototypes within the gallery space for the oral presentation. Teams prepared their presentations with scenarios and character roles, creating an engaging narrative structure for their showcases. The Kimberlites represented their project through dialogue, embodying various perspectives to communicate the project’s significance effectively.
Audience Engagement
The final session was received positively by peers and the gallery’s director. Participants from the M1 CCST program observed the diverse systems presented, providing constructive feedback. There was optimism about possibly featuring these innovative scientific mediation devices in future exhibitions at the Eureka Gallery.
Key Takeaways from the Experience
Through this intensive four-day undertaking, the CCST students not only enhanced their understanding of scientific communication for family audiences but also learned the importance of collaboration, creativity, and the integration of personal storytelling into scientific research.
Benefits of Scientific Mediation Projects
- Enhanced Public Understanding: Simplifying complex scientific topics fosters broader understanding and accessibility.
- Increased Engagement: Interactive exhibits stimulate curiosity and encourage visitors to explore intricate themes.
- Fostering Awareness: Engaging narratives from real people emphasize the human impact of research topics.
Practical Tips for Designing Scientific Mediation Projects
- Identify your audience and create tailored content that engages them.
- Incorporate interactive elements to invite participation and interaction.
- Use storytelling techniques to relate scientific information to real-world experiences.
- Collaborate with experts to ensure accuracy and relevance.
- Stay adaptable and open to feedback throughout the development process.
Case Studies in Scientific Mediation
| Project Name | Description | Key Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| Gaulois, a Stunning Experience | Exhibition showcasing the life of ancient Gauls through immersive environments. | Increased visitor engagement and a deeper understanding of history. |
| Archéo, an Exhibition to Dig | Traveling exhibition that allows hands-on archaeology experience. | Encouraged active learning and excitement about science. |
Your Experience Matters
Whether you are a student, educator, or passionate about science communication, engaging with scientific mediation practices can be deeply enriching. By diving into complex subjects and embracing creativity, the potential for innovation in communicating science is limitless!
