Popularizing Palaeontology: Current and Historical Perspectives

化石、生命史和灭绝的生物是科学公开演讲中最突出的话题。但为什么会这样，这是怎么发生的，古生物学在更广泛的公众辩论中可以扮演什么角色？该网络旨在回答这些问题，汇集了国际人文社会科学学者、科学家、博物馆专业人士和文化部门的参与者。结合科学思想的公共传播的理论和实践讨论，我们将研究古生物学概念在现代世界的动态和重要性，同时也为科学传播发展新的理解和方法。一系列的研讨会和相关的公众参与活动将调查古生物学的观点是如何在现在和历史上与公众辩论相互作用的。我们将研究古生物学家与公众接触的原因，为什么公众对古生物学感兴趣，以及这些兴趣是如何相互影响的——有时是合作的，有时是紧张的。我们将考虑通过科学书籍、讲座、演讲、艺术品、电影、电脑游戏和其他媒体展示古生物学思想和物体的不同方式。我们还将考虑如何以及为什么一些主题-如恐龙，外来田野调查和人类起源-越来越多地主导公开演讲，而该领域的其他方面往往被忽视或被视为有问题。这些讨论将导致对古生物学拓展和参与的新方向的考虑，无论是新的受众，新的流派，新的议程，还是更广泛的概念和问题的参与。在此过程中，我们将寻求提供关于科学在公共生活中的作用和特征的新视角，以及关于进化、自然和环境的更广泛辩论的背景。

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.