Evaluation of the NISE Net Forums

Elizabeth Kunz Kollmann

www.nisenet.org

NISE Network Forum Team

• Museum of Science, Boston

• Science Museum of Minnesota

• Exploratorium

• Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

• Museum of Life and Science

Forum Goals

• Enhancing participants’ understandings of nanoscale science, technology, and engineering and its potential impact on participants’ lives, society, and the environment.

• Strengthening the public’s and scientists’ acceptance of, and familiarity with, diverse points of view related to nanoscale science, technology, and engineering.

• Engaging participants in discussions and dialogues where they consider the positive and negative impacts of existing or potential nanotechnologies.

• Increasing participants’ confidence in participating in public discourse about nanotechnologies and/or the value they find in engaging in such activities.

1. Formative Evaluations

2. Summative Evaluation of Nanomedicine Forum

Formative Evaluation Methods

• Registration survey

• Pre/post event survey

• Forum observations

• Small group videotaping

• Speaker follow-up email survey

• Educator debrief

Summative Evaluation Methods

• Pre-forum survey

• Immediate post-forum survey

• Two-week follow-up online survey

1. Different demographic groups were attracted to different topics.

2. Participants learned about both societal and ethical implications and nanotechnology.

3. The forums gave participants a chance to practice and increase their comfort participating in discussions.

Differing Participant Demographics

• Males more attracted to forums about energy

• Older adults more attracted to forum topics like energy and consumer product labeling

• Non-whites more attracted to forums about applied topics such as medicine

Learning about SEI and Nano

• Increased knowledge and awareness of nanoscale science, engineering, and technology

• Increased awareness of the risks and benefits of nanotechnology

Practice and Comfort Participating in Discussions

• Had a chance to voice their opinions

• Felt comfortable voicing their opinions

• Heard diverse viewpoints

• Weighed the pros and cons of nano during the discussion

• Evaluations indicate that the NISE Net forums achieved their participant goals

• This does not mean that these evaluations are one-size-fits-all

• Instead, evaluation decisions should be made based on goals and other considerations

Contact InformationElizabeth Kunz Kollmannekollmann@mos.orgMuseum of Science, Boston

This presentation was based on work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. ESI-0532536. Any opinions, findings and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.