| Frequently Asked Questions |
|
0.1 What is a science shop?
To the general overview of Frequently Asked Questions 0.1 What is a science shop? Science Shops define themselves as 'a unit that provides independent, participatory research support in response to concerns experienced by civil society'. For the most part, these units belong to universities, though some are organised as separate NGOs or non-for-profit companies. Science Shops combine research (and teaching where applicable) with service to society. Civil society organisations can simply approach a Science Shop with a problem in which they feel some research would be helpful for them to help solve their problem. The Science Shop staff will then transfer these requests into research projects and find students and/or staff to work on these projects, in close contact with the "client". The results are handed over to the client and the Science Shop staff will support the use of these scientific results by the client and will help to formulate follow-up proposals, both those relevant to the client and those relevant to further research. This process means that new knowledge is generated, or at least existing knowledge is combined and adapted to context. Science Shops use the term "science" in its broadest
sense, incorporating social and human sciences, as well as natural,
physical, engineering and technological sciences. As a mission statement, Science Shops seek to:
A variety of other tasks are sometimes performed by Science Shops, such as regular university teaching and research, contract research, education and trainings for civil society, et cetera.
0.2 What about the name "science shop", do I need to use it? Many countries use the literal translation of "Science Shop"
(Wetenschapswinkel, Videnskabsbutiken, Wissenschaftsladen, Bazar de
las Ciencias, Boutique des Sciences, etc). However, you can
"be" a science shop without calling yourself by that
name. Look at the work you do, not at the name you use !!
0.3 Where and when did science shops start? The contemporary history of science shops in Europe was initiated
by critical university staff and students in the Netherlands in the
1970s, ideologically linked to the movement of 1968; their
establishment coincided with the emergence of project-based
education in universities, and was fed by an emerging environmental
awareness in society. The approach had wide appeal, and within 10
years science shops had been established at all Dutch universities
as a bureau of the institution, serving many scientific disciplines.
Although the science shops professionalized further in the 1980s,
they managed to maintain their original mission even in the changing
1990s - albeit with some reorganisations.
0.4 Where can I find a science shop now? Science shops exist in many countries today. You can find an
overview of contact
point in different countries of the Living Knowledge website.
You can also get in contact with a network of experts and expertise
by joining the Living
Knowledge network.
0.5 Are there organisations that are comparable to science shops? There are analogues to science shops (see also FAQ
0.2); there are
institutes that do the same work by a different name (e.g. InterMediu
in Romania, or Interchange
in Liverpool).
0.6 What is the difference between a science shop and a knowledge transfer bureau? Science shops are demand driven and work on non-profit questions. Most knowledge transfer bureaus work for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) on a paid basis (with usually support from Ministries of Economic Affairs or European Union funds). Commercial project results usually do not become public, or in general are less open to the public, this is another difference with science shop work. Universities that work for industry and SME's at least claim to produce public results as well. For many universities it is an obligation to make results public (although this might take some time).
Science shops are demand driven and incorporate civil society from the start of the project. They work in close cooperation with the principal (often a community organisation) throughout the whole project. This is a big difference with more regular dissemination or science communication activities, which give information to the public after the research has been done. Science shops are an example of interactive science communication.
0.8 What is the difference between a Science Shop for Law and a Bureau for Legal Aid? Bureaux for Legal Aid (Legal Aid Clinics) differ from the current Science Shops for Law (which exist as de-centralised science shops in The Netherlands). The latter do not focus on individual problems or legal aid, but conduct research on legal themes that comprise issues for civil organisations - or general questions coming from Bureaux for Legal Aid. Bureaux or Clinics for Legal Aid that exist in many countries today, may thus in fact be clients of the current Science Shops when seeking support, be it inside the Law-discipline or in technical/social matters.
0.9 In what disciplines are science shops active? Science shops can cover all scientific disciplines, ranging from natural sciences to economics, social sciences and humanities, depending on the supply of knowledge they can make available within their institute.
|
|
