Popularizing Palaeontology: Current and Historical Perspectives

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Fossils, life's history and extinct organisms are some of the most prominent topics in public presentations of science. But why is this, how did this come about, and what roles can palaeontology play within wider public debate? This network seeks to answer these questions, bringing together an international group of humanities and social sciences scholars, scientists, museum professionals and participants from the cultural sector. Mixing theoretical and practical discussions on the public circulation of scientific ideas, we will investigate the dynamics and importance of palaeontological concepts in the modern world, while also developing new understandings and methods for science communication more generally. A series of workshops and associated public engagement events will investigate how palaeontological ideas have interacted with public debates, both in the present and historically. We will examine the reasons why palaeontologists have engaged with the public, why public audiences have been interested in palaeontology, and how these interests have impacted on one another - sometimes collaboratively, and sometimes tensely. We will consider the different ways that palaeontological ideas and objects have been presented through science books, lectures, talks, artworks, film, computer games, and other media. We will also consider how and why some subjects - such as dinosaurs, exotic fieldwork, and human origins - have increasingly dominated public presentations, while other aspects of the field have often been neglected or seen as problematic. These discussions will lead to consideration of new directions which palaeontological outreach and engagement can take, whether this be to new audiences, new genres, new agendas, and engagement with wider concepts and issues. In doing so, we will seek to provide new perspectives on the role and character of science in public life, and on the background to wider debates on evolution, nature and the environment.