How can museums engage with the public?

Join us for a panel discussion on public engagement in the museum context hosted by the Public Engagement in Science and Technology Adelaide (PESTA) research group at the University of Adelaide. The event will be chaired by Prof Rachel Ankeny (PESTA convenor – University of Adelaide) and will feature a panel of experts including:

Ms Justine van Mourik (Deputy Director, Engagement – South Australian Museum) – It’s all fun and games. Communicating science to diverse audiences
Justine will discuss strategies to engage the disengaged focusing largely on examples from recent programming at the Museum for audiences from 12 through to 102 using humour, toys and XR technologies.

Ms Alison Kershaw (Program Manager – Inspiring South Australia, South Australian Museum) – Science isn’t finished until it is communicated
The COVID pandemic has shown the importance and critical value of clear and effective science communication. Alison will discuss the role, importance and value to scientists and the wider community of great science communication to help us all make informed decisions, care for ourselves and the planet.

Mr Michael Harvey (Director – Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium) – Not just a pretty garden: The Botanic Garden as an outdoor natural history museum
Michael will talk about what the Botanic Gardens means for their audiences, their work in placemaking, and the connections between their research and collections and the public.