Plenary: CEO Conversation on Social Responsibility
Social responsibility should come naturally to science centres
An unwavering commitment to science and the nature of the scientific process does not preclude the consideration of social, cultural, and political issues. Rather, an obligation to encourage a lifelong scientific interest in our diverse communities demands it. That was the general consensus of panellists at Wednesday’s CEO Conversation on Social Responsibility.
Science centres exist at the intersection between culture and science, said Maya Halevy from the Bloomfield Science Centre in Jerusalem. “The science centre is a safe place for difficult discussions and a place where we can use science as a common language for people from different nations and cultures. In Jerusalem, three separate communities exist in total isolation from one another. What makes us unique is that we can create a safe meeting place for people from all of them to come together.”
Science centres need to be places that make connections between policy-makers, scientists, educators, entrepreneurs, children, adults, and a whole range of vulnerable groups, who are actually the majority in developing countries, said Elizabeth Hoyos from Maloka in Colombia. “They have to respect different cultures, connect different regions, bring forward the idea that we’re all in this together facing some difficult challenges in a great, interconnected world.”
It is not enough just to provide a safe space or culturally informed content, though. Ana Noronha of Ciência Viva in Portugal stressed the importance of reaching out to underprivileged communities. “It isn’t enough to say here it is; you are invited. You have to create networks and reach into the communities. There is a clear obligation for action. And you have to acknowledge that learning happens in both directions.”
Moderator Bryce Seidl from the Pacific Science Centre in Seattle agreed. “We can’t afford to ignore the fact that we live in societies with many complexities. We can, we should, and we must help our societies develop the critical thinking skills that are needed for humankind to prosper. We can do this only if we reach out to connect science to the things that are important to the individual lives of people in their various stages of development.”
Guenther Scholz, CEO of Siemens Canada and the sole panellist from the private sector, underscored the importance of understanding and appreciating different cultures in order to foster natural curiosity. “We need to work together to share a vision of the future. . . . The solutions don’t always require complex scientific research. Listening to the elders, the people who have a natural understanding, is important too.”
Acknowledging that science centres had not historically addressed many of the important social issues confronting the bulk of their potential audiences, Eric Jolly from the Science Museum of Minnesota stressed the need to “let people know they have the right to access this privilege and this knowledge. But that right will be short-lived if we don’t also give them a vision that is long-term. Science needs to inspire the next generation, but it must also address the needs of this generation.”
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