Examining the Science Capital of Public Science Event Audiences (Poster 5)

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Thursday 3:35 p.m.
  In Poster Session: Informal Learning Environments Research Poster Session

Abstract

Visitors to public science events often report gains in scientific knowledge, improved attitudes toward science, and a greater awareness of science in everyday life. However, these visitors disproportionately come from white, well-educated backgrounds. This paper utilizes a science capital framework to analyze the differential impacts of PSEs on their audiences. Quantitative analyses are used to explore the kinds of science capital that visitors bring to PSEs, how the science capital of audiences differs between events, and how science capital might predict future participation in PSEs. Results reveal that PSE visitors, who typically have high pre-existing levels of science capital, leverage these events to further accumulate science capital. Moreover, science capital positively correlates with visitors’ intentions to attend future PSEs.

Author

• Ross Ramsey, University of South Carolina