Communicating Material Cultures of Energy: Five Challenges for Energy Communication
Lead Research Organisation:
Science Museum Group
Department Name: Science Museum Research
Abstract
Human energy consumption and its direct link to global climate change is among the most defining and challenging issues of our time. The original Material Cultures of Energy project (MCE, conducted in 2014-2017) examined how copiously consumed energy transformed daily life during the 20th century. The MCE project successfully revealed that consumers have shaped the diverse patterns of energy consumption in accordance with distinctively local, regional and national energy cultures. This follow-on project will build on the successes of MCE and its intervention into today's energy issues by directly engaging with the process of communicating energy-related knowledge and information. This approach presents a unique opportunity for arts and humanities research to directly influence professional practices that have important bearings on energy users' behaviour, knowledge and attitude.
This project will explore methods for improving communication about energy-related information and knowledge to the public. The project will mobilise the MCE project's legacy assets and engage with a new community of stakeholders: 'energy communicators' such as museum curators; public relations and communication officers in business, government offices, NGOs, community energy groups. By collaborating with the key mediators of energy-related information, the project seeks to deliver the original project's research findings-in the broader context of today's energy communication-to stakeholders and the public effectively and immediately. Simultaneously, the project aims to benefit communication experts by creating new collaborative partnerships and a network of research institutions, the cultural industry and the energy sector.
Using public museums of the Science Museum Group as the main site of dialogue and public events, the project will conduct five interrelated activities to address the Five Challenges for Energy Communication:
Challenge 1. Object-based communication
Challenge 2. Behavioural intervention
Challenge 3. Visual media communication
Challenge 4. Participatory communication
Challenge 5. Community engagement
These challenges form the bases of the project's five activities that are designed to foster a multidisciplinary dialogue, co-creation process and cross-fertilisation of expertise in the field of energy communication. The five activities and their main objectives are as follows:
- Five Challenges Knowledge Exchange Sessions will create a sustained dialogue within the core project group, a multidisciplinary group of energy communicators working in research and practice.
- The project's public events at regional science festivals will combine the insights from both the MCE project and the follow-on KE sessions in a tangible form.
- An Energy Communication Conference will be organised to expand the project's scope, incorporating a wider community of communication experts within and outside of the UK.
- The Energy Communication Network will perpetuate a close working relationship among energy communicators by establishing an online-based professional network and hub of information. The network will operate via the project website and is expected to continue beyond the life of the project.
- The Energy Communication Toolkit will make available the collective knowledge and insights of energy communicators in an open-access format, intended as a reference and as learning material for communication experts and students.
Our project partners represent diverse areas of energy communication, including the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the Behavioural Insights Team, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), the Community Energy England and the Carbon Co-op. By working closely with these partners, the follow-on project is expected to activate a dialogue across different fields of energy communication in a concerted effort to tackle major challenges for energy communication.
This project will explore methods for improving communication about energy-related information and knowledge to the public. The project will mobilise the MCE project's legacy assets and engage with a new community of stakeholders: 'energy communicators' such as museum curators; public relations and communication officers in business, government offices, NGOs, community energy groups. By collaborating with the key mediators of energy-related information, the project seeks to deliver the original project's research findings-in the broader context of today's energy communication-to stakeholders and the public effectively and immediately. Simultaneously, the project aims to benefit communication experts by creating new collaborative partnerships and a network of research institutions, the cultural industry and the energy sector.
Using public museums of the Science Museum Group as the main site of dialogue and public events, the project will conduct five interrelated activities to address the Five Challenges for Energy Communication:
Challenge 1. Object-based communication
Challenge 2. Behavioural intervention
Challenge 3. Visual media communication
Challenge 4. Participatory communication
Challenge 5. Community engagement
These challenges form the bases of the project's five activities that are designed to foster a multidisciplinary dialogue, co-creation process and cross-fertilisation of expertise in the field of energy communication. The five activities and their main objectives are as follows:
- Five Challenges Knowledge Exchange Sessions will create a sustained dialogue within the core project group, a multidisciplinary group of energy communicators working in research and practice.
- The project's public events at regional science festivals will combine the insights from both the MCE project and the follow-on KE sessions in a tangible form.
- An Energy Communication Conference will be organised to expand the project's scope, incorporating a wider community of communication experts within and outside of the UK.
- The Energy Communication Network will perpetuate a close working relationship among energy communicators by establishing an online-based professional network and hub of information. The network will operate via the project website and is expected to continue beyond the life of the project.
- The Energy Communication Toolkit will make available the collective knowledge and insights of energy communicators in an open-access format, intended as a reference and as learning material for communication experts and students.
Our project partners represent diverse areas of energy communication, including the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the Behavioural Insights Team, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), the Community Energy England and the Carbon Co-op. By working closely with these partners, the follow-on project is expected to activate a dialogue across different fields of energy communication in a concerted effort to tackle major challenges for energy communication.
Planned Impact
The follow-on project establishes structured impact pathways. The immediate impact will be on the policy and practice of our partners (museum curators and communication officers of energy-related organisations). Through the KE sessions and co-creation of public events, the project's activities will feed historical and contemporary insights and experience into today's practice of energy communication in the museum and energy sectors. The Energy Communication Network, including the expert workshop participants, will bring the project's impact to a wider community of energy communication experts. The Energy Communication Toolkit will serve as a tangible legacy asset of the project and, as a learning and reference material available for free download, will benefit communication experts, researchers and students. The project's public events will directly engage with the visitors to science festivals, providing a learning opportunity for its target audiences (18+ years old).
Museum curators and media archivists: This project will serve as a training and educational programme for curators and archivists in the partner museums and cultural institutions. The participation of museum professionals at the KE sessions will inform their work on forming future communication and design policies in the partner museums. An immediate impact will be created by the project's collaboration with the Manchester Museum of Science & Industry (MSI). The project will work closely with the lead curator of the 'Electricity: The Spark of Life' exhibition, and the project's first public event will be offered to the public as a part of the exhibition. Also, the Energy Communication Toolkit will inform the MSI's energy-related exhibitions in the future. Furthermore, the project's discussion on visual media communication will contribute to the British Film Institute's (BFI) future digitisation and engagement policy. More specifically, BFI has agreed to explore the possibilities for permanently archiving modern energy communication films for research and public view.
Energy NGOs and community energy groups: The KE sessions will bring communication officers of these organisations into direct contact with cultural institutions, providing opportunities to develop and test innovative methods of communication and engagement, especially through cultural channels. The delegates from the partner organisations, such as the Community Energy England and the Energy Co-op will be given a chance to critically review their communication policies and practices with a wider community of experts at the project conference. The insights gained from the activities will be transferred through the partner organisations' executive meetings, their communication with members and their normal course of business such as consultations with local energy groups.
Energy providers: Across the UK and elsewhere, several visitor centres are operated by energy providers. The museum or exhibition format is commonly employed to communicate information at those sites. EDF Energy, a partner, runs a number of visitor centres creating a positive relationship with local communities. By having communication officers of EDF Energy in the research group, the project will assist with refining the engagement strategy for the public front of energy providers.
Government organisations: Behavioural change is one of the key concerns of governmental organisations, such as the BEIS, Ofgem and the Behavioural Insights Team. The follow-on project aims to deliver insights and knowledge, especially about cultural communication and its effect on behavioural change, to these important public players in the energy sector. By working closely with these organisations, the project will inform both the future policy and the design of energy-related communication in these bodies. BEIS recognises the potential benefit of the Energy Communication Toolkit as a guideline for its future communication work.
Museum curators and media archivists: This project will serve as a training and educational programme for curators and archivists in the partner museums and cultural institutions. The participation of museum professionals at the KE sessions will inform their work on forming future communication and design policies in the partner museums. An immediate impact will be created by the project's collaboration with the Manchester Museum of Science & Industry (MSI). The project will work closely with the lead curator of the 'Electricity: The Spark of Life' exhibition, and the project's first public event will be offered to the public as a part of the exhibition. Also, the Energy Communication Toolkit will inform the MSI's energy-related exhibitions in the future. Furthermore, the project's discussion on visual media communication will contribute to the British Film Institute's (BFI) future digitisation and engagement policy. More specifically, BFI has agreed to explore the possibilities for permanently archiving modern energy communication films for research and public view.
Energy NGOs and community energy groups: The KE sessions will bring communication officers of these organisations into direct contact with cultural institutions, providing opportunities to develop and test innovative methods of communication and engagement, especially through cultural channels. The delegates from the partner organisations, such as the Community Energy England and the Energy Co-op will be given a chance to critically review their communication policies and practices with a wider community of experts at the project conference. The insights gained from the activities will be transferred through the partner organisations' executive meetings, their communication with members and their normal course of business such as consultations with local energy groups.
Energy providers: Across the UK and elsewhere, several visitor centres are operated by energy providers. The museum or exhibition format is commonly employed to communicate information at those sites. EDF Energy, a partner, runs a number of visitor centres creating a positive relationship with local communities. By having communication officers of EDF Energy in the research group, the project will assist with refining the engagement strategy for the public front of energy providers.
Government organisations: Behavioural change is one of the key concerns of governmental organisations, such as the BEIS, Ofgem and the Behavioural Insights Team. The follow-on project aims to deliver insights and knowledge, especially about cultural communication and its effect on behavioural change, to these important public players in the energy sector. By working closely with these organisations, the project will inform both the future policy and the design of energy-related communication in these bodies. BEIS recognises the potential benefit of the Energy Communication Toolkit as a guideline for its future communication work.
Organisations
- Science Museum Group (Lead Research Organisation)
- Carbon Co-op (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Electricity North West (Collaboration)
- Behavioural Insights Ltd (Collaboration)
- NATIONAL MUSEUMS SCOTLAND (Collaboration)
- Community Energy England (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- California State University, Fresno (Collaboration)
- British Film Institute (BFI) (Collaboration)
- Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (Collaboration)
- EDF Energy (United Kingdom) (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- UNIVERSITY OF SALFORD (Collaboration)
- Ofgem Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Collaboration)
- KING'S COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- University of Salford (Project Partner)
- Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Project Partner)
- The Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) (Project Partner)
Publications
Chappels H
(2019)
Energizing the Spaces of Everyday Life
Shin H
(2021)
Energy Communication Toolkit
Shin H
(2021)
Research Handbook on Energy and Society
Shin H
(2019)
Electrifying Anthropology
Shin H
(2019)
Money and Markets: Essays in Honour of Martin Daunton
Taylor V
(2019)
Energizing the Spaces of Everyday Life
Taylor V
(2019)
Eerngizing the Spaces of Everyday Life
Wright R
(2018)
Mass Observation and the Emotional Energy Consumer
in Canadian Journal of History
| Description | This project aimed to intervene in the communicative process pertaining to energy-related information from an arts and humanities perspective, based on the knowledge and insights gained from the original research project, 'Material Cultures of Energy'. The main objective of this follow-on project was to address core challenges for energy communication through the project's inter-related engagement activities. The major achievements of the project were as follows: The project effectively identified and reached out to new stakeholders in energy-related sectors, including some cultural institutions (e.g. museums, science centres, art groups, film archives)that are involved in producing public communications pertaining to energy. In particular, the project conference, 'Energy and Public Communication', significantly expanded the project's reach to a wide range of stakeholders as the conference was attended by researchers, museum curators, STEM ambassadors, communication experts, civil servants and artists (including a writer and a film director). The project revealed that the improvement of energy-related public communication is a shared interest across multiple sectors, including the culture, government, industry and voluntary sectors. The project's multi-disciplinary approach was particularly appreciated by all participants as a means of advancing both research and practical work on energy-related public communication. The project set up a forum for the discussion of energy communication by experts. The objective of creating a dialogue among energy communication experts has been achieved chiefly through knowledge exchange sessions. The first knowledge exchange session, on object-based communication, led to the participants' shared recognition that a better understanding of object-based communication methods can enhance energy communicators' ability to engage with their audiences effectively. The second knowledge exchange session, on visual communication, brought together those who are experimenting with the new visualisation technology of energy-data visualisation and those who employ the conventional visual media of films. The meeting discussed the relative merits of new and conventional approaches to visual communication. The third session, on participatory communication, highlighted the continued relevance of conventional methods of communication, such as face-to-face meetings and hands-on activities. The fourth knowledge exchange session broadened the framework of communication by situating energy communication within the whole spectrum of social change and everyday life. This enabled the project members to situate energy communication within a broad perspective and explore possible links to the diverse social and technical changes that are taking place in today's society. Overall, our knowledge exchange sessions underlined the importance of creative approaches to energy communication. Two project partners (the Science and Industry Museum and Electricity North West), for example, have produced artworks based on ENW's energy data, and our discussion helped them assess the impact and future potential of such collaborative endeavours. As the project has progressed, it has accumulated a number of case studies that are relevant resources for future use by communication experts and students. These resources have been incorporated into the 'Energy Communication Toolkit'. The 'Energy Communication Toolkit' will be uploaded to the project website shortly, and a number of physical copies will be distributed among project partners and relevant institutions. In this publication, diverse approaches to energy communication, which have been addressed by the project's discussions, are presented in a concise form in order to stimulate further cross-fertilisation of energy communication expertise across various sectors and fields. The project members organised some unique communication experiments. The 'Energy Quiz' session at the Manchester Science Festival, for example, combined a participatory activity with multi-media (an exhibition, historical films and music) in order to stimulate public discussion about modern energy development. Designed as a complementary activity to a museum exhibition, 'Electricity: The Spark of Life', this participatory event proved the value of combining multiple communication approaches to enhance learning experiences in museums. Also, as part of the project conference, we organised a number of demonstration sessions to try out innovative communication exercises, including 'The Great Energy Escape' (Energy Co-op), the 'We-Energy Game' (Hanze University, the Netherlands), the 'Zero Carbon City Challenge' (10:10 Climate Action) and 'Power Lines' (Greg Lynall and Philippa Holloway). The unique aspect of this conference was that, by bringing these activities together in one place, it enabled participants to experience diverse communication methods and discuss the comparative advantages and disadvantages of each type of activity. One salient finding from this event was that participants generally agreed that creative activities (such as free writing and artistic communication) offer significant potential for energy communication, especially as these activities have a broad appeal for experts and non-experts alike. The project's role in creating an information and network hub for energy communicators has been enhanced by the increased number of project collaborators. The project started with eight partners and, by the end of the project, the number of partners/collaborators had increased to more than fifty. For instance, the National Museum of Scotland and Electricity North West have been added as institutional collaborators, while Dr Sarah Darby (University of Oxford), Dr Liz Haines (University of Bristol), Dr Paul Coleman (National Science and Media museum), Dr Greg Lynall (University of Liverpool), Dr Enrico Costanza (University College London), Dr Julie Goodhew (eViz project) and Ms Vicki Lesley (Tenner Films) have taken part in the project's knowledge exchange sessions. |
| Exploitation Route | The project's unique attempt to bring together energy communicators has attracted interest from various communication experts, energy practitioners, campaign organisations, cultural organisations and local authorities. A number of collaboration meetings have been held, in which the project's findings have been communicated to practitioners. Some examples of such meetings include: a meeting with the Science and Industry Museum's curator in charge of the re-development of the Power Hall; a meeting with the research head of Ingenium, Canada; and a meeting with the director and research and development manager of the Energy Discovery Centre, Estonia. These meetings helped the collaborating organisations reflect upon their activities from a communication perspective. The demonstration sessions at the project conference included a semi-public preview of 10:10 Climate Action's 'Zero Carbon City Challenge'. These demonstration sessions served as an opportunity for cross-sector learning of communication methods. Some potential uses to which the project findings might be put are as follows: - The implementation of energy communication techniques in exhibition development in museums; - The transfer of museum curators' expert knowledge to the energy industry (e.g. energy companies' visitor centres), community energy groups and local authorities, thereby enhancing their ability to communicate energy-related issues in a creative fashion. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Creative Economy,Education,Energy,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Description | The project's impacts were derived from two sources. The first type of impact was based on the research outcomes of the original project that investigated the historical development of energy consumption. The second type of impact was generated directly by the current project's activities focusing on energy-related public communication. The first type of impact, comprising insights into the long-term development of energy communication practices, informed all of the project activities - historical case studies were employed in the project's knowledge exchange sessions, public events and conference - while the second type of impact, comprising the current project's public engagement activities generated new knowledge, insights and networks, and these outcomes also created further research impacts in diverse sectors and organisations, as follows: Government and Local Authorities: The project engaged with government offices (BEIS, Ofgem and the Behavioural Insights Team ) and local authorities (the Greater Manchester Combined Authority). Delegates from government offices attended the project's knowledge exchange sessions and conference, and insights from the project have been fed into their research activities and general communication practices. For instance, the project's principal investigator (PI) provided feedback on a presentation by a member of the BIT, along with comments on the organisation's data usage. The feedback was communicated to the BIT's management. Two members of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority were invited to a panel discussion at the project conference, in which the project members and conference participants provided ideas about how to incorporate public communication in the city's carbon reduction policy. Industry: EDF Energy and Electricity North West (ENW) were project partners. The external communication manager of EDF Energy used the project's knowledge sessions as an opportunity to engage with the heritage sector and heritage-related research. A delegate from ENW benefitted from the project members' feedback on the company's routine communication work. The project provided further impetus for ENW to strengthen their collaboration with culture institutions as part of ENW's communication activities. For EDF France, another collaborator, the project provided an opportunity to gain expert feedback on their public communication materials. Local Energy Groups: Community Energy England (CEE) and Carbon Co-op were project partners. The external communication officer of CEE attended most of the project meetings, and the project assisted CEE in establishing new connections with communication experts and gaining up-to-date information about various communication trials, knowledge that has been fed into CEE's communication activities. The delegate from Carbon Co-op reported that he gained insights into new communication pathways, especially through collaboration with public museums. Cultural Industry: As part of the project conference, we organised a session entitled 'Public Museums as Sites of Energy Communication', to which delegates from three museums (the National Museum of Scotland, the Science and Industry Museum and Ingenium) were invited to present papers. This session, along with a separate meeting with these museums, raised their awareness regarding energy-related communication at museums as a source of public information and education. The project researchers are currently developing plans for further collaboration with these museums. The project researchers also collaborated with the film industry (BFI and Tenner Film) and artists (Art and Energy). The project helped these partners in the creative industries to think about their cultural activities as a form of communication. One tangible result from this connection was that the project PI was invited to take part in an industry event (the 'Fuelling Film: Corporate Film and the Energy Sector' event organised by the Event & Visual Communication Association) as a panellist. International Impact: The project connected researchers and participants to non-UK collaborators in Germany, Canada, the USA, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Estonia and Japan. A collaborator in Germany attended the project conference, and the insights he gained from the conference have been featured in the German Renewable Energy Agency's report on climate action education (RENEWS KOMPAKT Issue 46 / September 2019 - 'Acquiring the Skills and Awareness Needed to Mitigate Climate Change'). The project also organised two study events for a Japanese high school at the Science Museum, London, in December 2018 and December 2019. More than fifty students in total attended the study events on energy technology and took part in interactive study sessions designed by the project PI. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Education,Energy,Environment,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Policy & public services |
| Description | BIT |
| Organisation | Behavioural Insights Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The project provided opportunity for the BIT officers to present and discuss their activities related to energy communication. |
| Collaborator Contribution | BIT provided insights into the process of behavioural change and how communication could affect energy users' behaviour. |
| Impact | yet to have outcomes. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | British Film Institute |
| Organisation | British Film Institute (BFI) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The project offered and opportunity for BFI to connect with communication experts in energy-related sectors. As BFI holds the national collection of films related to energy industry such as those created by the coal, oil and electricity industries, the project provided an opportunity for BFI to review its collection policy with a view to fully exploiting its archive collection for the benefit of the general public. Shin (project PI) contributed to an event at BFI 'Fuelling Film: Corporate Film & the Energy Sector' as a panellist. |
| Collaborator Contribution | A representative from BFI took part in the project's knowledge exchange sessions and separate meetings. BFI assisted the project's research and use of archival films held by BFI. |
| Impact | 'Fuelling Film: Corporate Film & the Energy Sector' event organised by the Event & Visual Communication Association at BFI. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Carbon Co-op |
| Organisation | Carbon Co-op |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The project enabled the partner to attend knowledge exchange sessions and other relevant events as training, development and networking opportunities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partner offered pro bono staff time for attending knowledge exchange sessions and other events and share its experience in public communication campaigns concerning energy. A representative from the Carbon Co-op attended all the knowledge exchange sessions and the project conference, contributing to the first and third session by giving a talk on the Carbon Co-op's various engagement and communication work. At the project conference, the Carbon Co-op provided an interactive communication activity the Great Energy Escape. |
| Impact | No outcomes yet. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Community Energy England |
| Organisation | Community Energy England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The project enabled the partner to attend knowledge exchange sessions and other relevant events as training, development and networking opportunities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partner offered pro bono staff time for attending knowledge exchange sessions and other events and share its experience in public communication campaigns concerning energy. A delegate from the organisation attended all the project's knowledge exchange sessions and presented insights from the organisation's work in the field of community energy at the third and fifth meetings. |
| Impact | No outcomes yet. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy |
| Organisation | Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The project provided opportunity for BEIS officer to interact with energy communication experts in the energy industry, museums and academic organisations. |
| Collaborator Contribution | BEIS provided time for its officers to attend the project's activities. The department's delegate attended two knowledge exchange session and the project conference. |
| Impact | An officer from BEIS attended the first knowledge exchange session. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Dr Cozen |
| Organisation | California State University, Fresno |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The project made use of some of the ideas Dr Cozen and his colleagues put forward in published articles on energy communication. The project invited Dr Cozen and his colleague Dr Danielle Endress as a keynote speaker and a round table speaker at the project conference. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr Cozen and his colleagues offered specialist insights into the field of energy communication through correspondence and by attending the project conference. Dr Endres contributed to the project by producing a conference report, which is now featured on the project website. |
| Impact | Conference report on the project website. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | EDF Energy |
| Organisation | EDF Energy |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The project enabled the partner to attend knowledge exchange sessions and other relevant events as training, development and networking opportunities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partner offered pro bono staff time for attending knowledge exchange sessions and other events and share its experience in public communication campaigns concerning energy. A delegate from EDF Energy attended most of the knowledge exchange sessions, and contributed to the first knowledge exchange by giving a talk on educational outreach activities by EDF Energy. |
| Impact | No outcomes yet. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Electricity North West |
| Organisation | Electricity North West |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The project enabled the partner to attend knowledge exchange sessions and other relevant events as training, development and networking opportunities. The project also provided the partner with some opportunities to review, assess and publicise its recent collaboration with the Science and Industry Museum. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partner offered pro bono staff time for attending knowledge exchange sessions and other events and share its experience in public communication campaigns concerning energy. A delegate from Electricity North West attended all the project's knowledge exchange sessions and contributed to the first and second knowledge exchange by giving a talk about the company's customer communication and about its experience of working with the Science and Industry Museum (Manchester) for Electricity: The Spark of Life exhibition from an energy provider's perspective. The partner also contributed to the project conference by presenting a joint paper in one of the conference sessions. In 2021, the ENW contributed a case study for the project's publication Energy Communication Toolkit. |
| Impact | No outcomes yet. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | KCL Dr Woodham |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Department | School of Biomedical Sciences KCL |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The project provide opportunities for Dr Woodham to discuss the 'Energy in Store' project, a project led by Dr Woodham, regarding the project's potential implications to the way energy-related knowledge is communicated to the public. This discussion took place at the session on 'participatory communication'. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr Woodham brought to the project a unique expertise and experience gained from the 'Energy in Store' project, a public engagement project that employed energy-related museum objects in order to reach a unique category of stakeholders, 'enthusiast experts'. The project participants found that the methodological and practical insights from the 'Energy in Store' project would be conducive to gaining a nuanced understanding of communication audience and to envisaging innovative ways to connect with the public. |
| Impact | no output yet. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | National Museum of Scotland |
| Organisation | National Museums Scotland |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The project provide opportunities for the museum's representatives to discuss and review its public communication concerning energy-related exhibits and galleries. |
| Collaborator Contribution | A delegate from the museum attended knowledge exchange sessions and the project conference, giving two presentations on its recent exhibition 'Age of Oil'. At the second knowledge exchange session on visual communication, the museum's curator for technology gave a unique methodological and practical insights into the ways in which visual materials can enhance museum visitors' connection with exhibition objects. Withe the museum, there is an on-going discussion about further collaboration. |
| Impact | no output yet. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Ofgem |
| Organisation | Ofgem Office of Gas and Electricity Markets |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The project provided opportunities for the Ofgem reps to take part in the dialogue with communication experts in other energy-related sectors. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Ofgem sent a representative to several of the project's knowledge exchange sessions, sharing information and insights regarding public communication of energy conducted at Ofgem. |
| Impact | Yet to have outputs. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | University of Salford |
| Organisation | University of Salford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The project enabled the partner to attend knowledge exchange sessions and other relevant events as training, development and networking opportunities. Especially, the project helped publicise the university's recent project Smart Meters>Smart Home. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partner offered pro bono staff time for attending knowledge exchange sessions and other events and share its experience in public communication campaigns concerning energy. A delegate from the University of Salford attended three knowledge exchange sessions and gave a presentation on the Smart Meters>Smart Home laboratory at the first session. |
| Impact | No outcomes yet. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | "Decarbonisation Déjà Vu", Nesta event on energy transitions |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Trentmann appeared in a roundtable for stakeholders in government, civil society, business as part of "Decarbonisation Déjà Vu", Nesta event on energy transitions, 14 December 2021 (on-line). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.nesta.org.uk/event/decarbonisation-recent-consumer-behaviour-change/ |
| Description | 'Is Your Journey Really Necessary?'QUB staff blog |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Shin contributed 'Is Your Journey Really Necessary?': COP26 and our travel habits in the post-COVID-19 world' as part of the blog series Queen's Voices on COP26 in November 2021. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.qub.ac.uk/sites/StaffGateway/staff-blog/IsYourJourneyReallyNecessaryCOP26andourtravelhab... |
| Description | 'Material Cultures of Energy', European University Institute (EUI), Florence, 3 December 2020. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Trentmann gave an academic seminar talk at the European University Institute on 3 December 2020. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | AHTV event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | The project PI participated an event organised by the AHRC in which the PI had opportunities to discuss the project's findings with two established film producers (Mr Steve Evanson and Ms Sam Fernandes). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | BBC3 "Green Thinking: Energy" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Trentmann appeared in a BBC3 podcast "Green Thinking: Energy" in Nov. 2021 to coincide with COP26. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0b2774q |
| Description | EVCOM event at BFI, Fuelling Film: Corporate Film & the Energy Sector, March 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Shin (PI) was invited to take part in a panel discussion at the Event & Visual Communication Association meeting at the British Film Institute. He is asked to act as a panellist and comment on the role of visual media in energy-related public communication. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.evcom.org.uk/events-and-awards |
| Description | Energy Narratives in Past Energy Exhibitions (Queen's University Belfast, Centre for Public History Blog) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Shin contributed to the Centre for Public History blog series at Queen's University Belfast. The blog is read by QUB students, museum practitioners and the general public. The blog entry was re-blogged by the Imperial War Museum. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/CentreforPublicHistory/Blog/ |
| Description | Energy Transitions on Display, QUB seminar talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Shin gave a talk at the Public History seminar, Queen's University Belfast. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Energy Visualization Symposium, University of Plymouth, 24 June 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Shin (PI) was invited to Energy Visualization Symposium at the University of Plymouth. This workshop was to discuss various forms of energy visualisation projects conducted around the university. One of the organisers, Dr Julie Goodhew took part in one of the project's knowledge exchange sessions and the project conference. Some new contacts at the energy industry and campaign bodies have been established. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | First Knowledge Exchange Session |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | On 18 December, the project held its first knowledge exchange session in the Dana Research Centre, Science Museum, on the theme of 'object-based communication' (the project's Challenge One). The meeting was introduced by Dr Shin, the project PI, followed by short talks by Mr Russell and Prof Trentmann - the two Co-Investigators. The first part of the session was entitled 'Object-based communication in action' in which Jan Hicks (Science and Industry Museum), Jonny Morgan (Electricity North West), Bob Fenton (EDF Energy), Will Swan (University of Salford) presented their experience and insights into communication work employing physical objects. The second part 'Objects, Practices and new Technologies' addressed the question of new technology and changing consumer practice. Heather Chappells (University of British Columbia), Jonathan Atkinson (Carbon Co-Op) and Sarah Darby (University of Oxford) gave talks on the topic. This meeting also served as a kick-off meeting for the entire project and most of the key stakeholders had opportunity to introduce themselves, including their current and recent work concerning energy-related public communication. The meeting was attended by Hiroki Shin (Science Museum), Ben Russell (Science Museum), Frank Trentmann (Birkbeck), Heather Chappells (University of British Columbia),Rebecca Wright (University of Northumbria), Vanessa Taylor (University of Greenwich),Poppy Walter (BEIS), Liz Haines (University of Bristol), Jon Hall (Community Energy England), Helen Peavitt (Science Museum), Jonathan Atkinson (Carbon Co-Op) and Sarah Darby (University of Oxford), Jan Hicks (Science and Industry Museum), Jonny Morgan (Electricity North West), Bob Fenton (EDF Energy), Will Swan (University of Salford) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Fourth Knowledge Exchange 'Energy Communication, Behaviour Change and Beyond' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The fourth and final knowledge exchange session was originally planned to discuss the role of public communication in changing energy users' behaviour. During the planning phase of the knowledge exchange, the scope of the session was broadened to include broader issues surrounding communication and behaviour - such as the question of how can energy communication be understand as part of everyday energy use. Sarah Royston (Anglia Ruskin University) gave a brief presentation on the ways remote medical service provisions are changing the pattern of energy consumption. Andrew Schein (Behavioural Insights Team, BIT) introduced several recent BIT trials on energy-related behaviour change. Rachel Lilley (University of Aberystwyth) reported the results from her project on energy consumption coaching. Matt Watson discussed the theoretical and methodological implication of changing scholarly attention away from behaviour change to social practices as a way to conceptualise the complexity of energy use within society. Other participants were: ? Frank Trentmann (Birkbeck) ? Ben Russell (Science Museum London) ? Jonathan Atkinson (Carbon Co-op) ? Tim Boon (Science Museum) ? Paul Coleman (Science and Media Museum) ? Sarah Darby (University of Oxford) ? Liz Haines (University of Bristol) ? Jon Hall (Community Energy England) ? Jan Hicks (Science and Industry Museum) ? Jonny Morgan (Electricity North West) ? Moira Nicolson (Ofgem) ? Zara Qadir (Sustainable Gas Institute, Imperial College London) The session showcased recent research developments in the field of energy and everyday practice. It served as an opportunity to consider energy communication from the perspective of behaviour and everyday practice. Participants discussed about the practical benefits of reconceptualising energy use and how to translate the practice-based perspective into practical policy recommendations. The exchange of perspectives between academic and practitioners' standpoints was the most valuable achievement from the session. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mce/activities/fourth-knowledge-exchange-session-energy-communication-behaviour... |
| Description | History and Heritage Adult Learning London Environment Festival 2020 Planning Meeting 4 June 2019, Wellcome Collection |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Shin (PI) and Vanessa Taylor (project member) took part in a planning meeting of the Raphael Samuel History Centre to discuss the theme and contents of the RSHC's public history festival in 2020. Taylor and Shin gave brief talks on the Material Cultures of Energy project and the Communicating Material Cultures of Energy project, and suggested potential topics and approaches to the environment theme for the festival. RSHC has decided on the theme of 'Earth: Urgent Histories'. Shin proposed to organise an event at the Science Museum London. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Manchester Science Festival 'Power: Late' event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | As part of the Manchester Science Festival, the project organised an event 'Energy Quiz' that consisted of short presentations and participatory quiz sessions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.manchestersciencefestival.com/event/power-late/ |
| Description | Meeting at BFI Feb 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In February 2019, the project PI had a meeting with a collaborator at the British Film Institute. In the meeting, the project's future directions, as well as the collaborator's further involvement in the project were discussed. The delegate expressed his willingness to make further contribution to the current project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Meeting at the Energy Discovery Center, Tallinn, Estonia, 26 August 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Shin (PI) had a meeting with executive members of the Energy Discovery Centre, Tallinn, Estonia. With the centre's director Ms Krista Keedus and Mr Aare Baumer (Research and Development Manager), Shin discussed potential collaboration and information exchange with the C-MCE project. The centre agreed to take part in future collaborative activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.energiakeskus.ee/en/personnel/ |
| Description | Meeting at the Energy Futures Lab, Imperial College, 24 Sep 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Shin (PI) had a meeting with Mr Neasan O'Neill of the Energy Futures Lab at the Imperial College London, regarding potential collaboration with the C-MCE project. The Energy Futures Lab has agreed to take part in future collaborative activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.imperial.ac.uk/energy-futures-lab/ |
| Description | Meeting at the National Gas Archive March 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Shin (PI) visited the National Gas Archive in Warrington and had a meeting with Jan Hicks (Science and Industry Museum, Manchester), Kerry Moores (National Gas Archive) and two other members of the archive regarding future collaboration. The archive has agreed to take part in relevant future project as a partner. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Meeting at the National Museum of Scotland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In December 2018, the PI (Shin) visited the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh to discuss the project with three curators and public engagement officers of the same museum. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Meeting at the Science Museum Japan |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Shin (PI) had a meeting at the Science Museum Japan. With Dr Masahiro Maejima, Dr Osamu Kamei and Dr Nobumichi Ariga, Shin discussed future collaboration between the project and the Japanese museum. The Science Museum Japan has agreed to take part in future collaborative activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Meeting at the University of the Arts London, 9 Oct 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Shin (PI) had a meeting with course conveners of Narrative Environments at the University of the Arts London. With Alex Rose (Science Museum), Ms Patricia Austin (UAL) and other UAL staff members, we discussed potential collaboration on the topic of 'future of energy exhibition'. UAL has provisionally agreed to take part in future project originating from the C-MCE project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.arts.ac.uk/subjects/architecture-spatial-and-interior-design/postgraduate/ma-narrative-e... |
| Description | Meeting re. further collaboration with NMS, Ingenium, MSI 24 July 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Shin (PI) and Chappells (project member) had a meeting with Jan Hicks (Science and Industry Museum, Manchester), Anna Adamek (Ingenium: Canada's Museum of Science & Innovation) and Ellie Swinbank (National Museum of Scotland) regarding further collaboration opportunities. It was agreed that all the institutions will become partners for research project proposal as an extension of working relationship in the current project. Ingenium offered to host a future planning meeting. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Meeting with Martin Meiske of the Deutsches Museum, 21 August 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Shin (PI) had a meeting with Dr Martin Meiske of the Deutsches Museum concerning potential collaboration between the Deutsches Museum and the C-MCE project. The museum has agreed to take part in future collaborative activities or new project as a partner. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Meeting with Superflux, 9 July 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Shin (PI) had a meeting with a design firm, Superflux on future collaboration with the project. The principal members of the firm expressed willingness to collaborate with the C-MCE project, or similar project in the future. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://superflux.in/# |
| Description | Nuclear Memories - An International Comparison: Roundtable |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Shin acted as the chair for 'Nuclear Memories - An International Comparison: Roundtable' in the Troubling Anniversaries conference held jointly by the Institute of Historical Research and Queen's University Belfast in October 2021. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.history.ac.uk/sites/default/files/file-uploads/2021-05/Troubling%20Anniversaries-%20prog... |
| Description | Participation in Engaging Parliaments with Academic Research workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The project PI was invited to participate the Engaging Parliaments with Academic Research workshop in March 2019. The workshop offered an opportunity to discuss the project with those working in the UK parliament, the PI also established new connections. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Project Conference 'Energy and Public Communication' 24-25 July 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The project conference 'Energy and Public Communication' was held at the Science and Industry Museum, Manchester on 24-25 July 2019. The conference was organised by Hiroki Shin (project PI) and Heather Chappells (University of British Columbia, a project member) in collaboration with the Science and Industry Museum. The conference opened with a keynote lecture by Dr Brian Cozen (California State University, Fresno), who is a leading scholar in energy communication studies. The first session of the conference was entitled 'Public museums as sites of energy communication'. Jan Hicks (Science and Industry Museum) and Jonathan Morgan (Electricity North West) provided insights from a collaborative project between a museum and a network operator to create an artistic installation, using real energy supply data, for Electricity: The Spark of Life exhibition. Ellie Swinbank (National Museum of Scotland) reported on the NMS's recent exhibition 'Age of Oil'. Anna Adamek (Ingenium: Canada's Museum of Science and Innovation) discussed museums' roles and capability of communicating energy-related issues. The first session was followed by the second keynote lecture by Mark Atherton (Environment for Greater Manchester), in which the Great Manchester Combined Authority's communication work was explained as it related to the city's zero-carbon policy. The first day of the conference was concluded with a film viewing and talk session by Vicki Lesley (Tenner Film) who directed a film 'The Atom: A Love Affair'. The second day of the conference had two presentation sessions, a demonstration session and a round table discussion. In the session 'Engaging the public in energy communication: diverse spheres of interaction', Bradon Smith (University of Bristol) reported on his recent engagement project, followed by a presentation by Wim Elving (Hanze University, the Netherlands) on the gamefication approach to energy communication, and a presentation by Matthew Howard on communicating innovation at research institutions. The following session 'Communication media and technology as facilitators of energy transition' focused on diverse sites and technologies of energy communication. Vanessa de Luca (SUPSI, Switzerland) explained several digital initiatives to engage the public in energy-related behaviour intervention. Craig Morris provided German examples of energy-related mass media communication. Marianne Heaslip (URBED) talked about participatory methods of sustainable building design. Bridget Newbery (Centre for Sustainable Energy) reported on the CSE's recent collaborative project that made available power supply data for community energy projects. In the afternoon of the second day, the conference organised demonstration sessions in which conference participants had first-hand experience of some energy communication trials. Energy Co-op's The Great Energy Escape was an immersive activity that simulated energy emergency to provide a better understanding of difficult choice that involve in balancing energy supply in a city. We-Energy Game (Hanze University, the Netherlands) was a board game to think about energy situation in a local setting. 10:10 Climate Action demonstrated a new card game 'Zero Carbon City Challenge', in which participants compete to achieve zero carbon emission by selectively adopting energy technologies. George Lynall (University of Liverpool) and Philippa Holloway (author) organised a creative writing session 'Power Lines: Creative Responses to Energy Spaces' that was designed to enhance participants' awareness of energy spaces. Vanessa de Luca (SUPSI) demonstrated the digital contents created by the Social Power project. EDF France exhibited public communication materials (digital and paper media), while Chloe Uden (Art and Energy) displayed a solar panel artwork. The conference's concluding session was a round table discussion about the interdisciplinary and cross-sector approach to energy communication, which was the main theme of the conference. The speakers were Dnielle Endres (University of Utah), Jonathan Atkinson (Carbon Co-op), Jessica Bays (UK Energy Research Centre), Craig Morris (Renewable Energy Agency, Germany) and Jonny Sadler (Manchester Climate Change Agency). A number of shared interests across sectors have been identified, such as the importance of narratives and community-building. Participants' feedback was exceptionally positive. To take some examples: "It was really refreshing that it was so positive and solutions based (and not a moaning shop about government policies)." "It is too rare to have such a variety of experts together." "Enormously useful to take time out of own sector where people tend to work and think in a similar way." In the conference report, Dr Endres wrote: "Personally speaking, this was the best conference I attended this year. The mix of academics and practitioners working across sectors and disciplines to address the coming energy transition was inspiring. I came away from the conference with a renewed sense of hope that the ingenuity, collaboration, and passion needed to address the climate crisis through changes in our energy systems already exists. Building on these projects and collaborations can make a difference in transforming our material cultures of energy." After the conference, the project PI had a number of discussions about further collaboration with diverse sectors and institutions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mce/activities/energy-and-public-communication-conference/ |
| Description | Project website |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | New project pages have been added to the existing project website for the Material Cultures of Energy. The website will be extended continuously as the project proceeds. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mce/research/energy-communication/ |
| Description | SMG Research Seminar Oct 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Shin gave an invited presentation on the project's scope and findings. The seminar was attended by approx. 20 people from across the Science Museum Group. The talk publicised the project within the group and associated researchers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Saijo High School study event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | In December 2018, the project hosted a study event for Saijo High School, Ehime, Japan at the Science Museum's Dana Research Centre. The event featured students' presentations, lectures by Dr Hiroki Shin (PI) on 'Disruption, Adaptation and Resilience' and Dr Aya Shin (EDF Energy) on nuclear safety. About 30 students were present, in addition to three teachers from the high school. Saijo High School has requested a similar event in future, to be held in January 2020. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://saijo-h.esnet.ed.jp/cms/modules/wordpress7/index.php?p=655 |
| Description | Science Museum Group Annual Report 2019-2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Shin (PI) contributed to the annual report of the Science Museum Group for the year 2019-2020. The entry described the activities of the Communicating Material Cultures of Energy project, including references to knowledge exchange sessions and the project conference. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Second Knowledge Exchange Session 'Visual Communication' 29 Mar 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The second knowledge exchange session discussed visual communication of energy topics. Ellie Swinbank (National Museum of Scotland) introduced the National Museum of Scotland's use of an original video programme in a recent exhibition. Enrico Costanza (UCL) discussed his project on connecting visual energy consumption data with the rhythm of daily routine. Julie Goodhew (University of Plymouth) presented her work in eViz project, a project to produce and utilise personalised thermal imaging related to household heating practice. Jonathan Morgan (Electricity North West) gave a talk on the corporate communication practice in a power network operator and how visual components of external communication improve the relation between the company and its customers. Greg Lynall provided insights from a public engagement event he organised at the Tate Liverpool, which employed artworks and creative writing to engage the general public in thinking about the past and future of renewable energy technology. Other participants were: ? Ben Russell (Science Museum) ? Jonathan Atkinson (Carbon Co-op) ? Poppy Walter (BEIS) ? Heather Chappells (University of British Columbia) ? Sarah Darby (University of Oxford) ? Bob Fenton (EDF Energy) ? Liz Haines (University of Bristol, 'Energy in Store' project) ? Jon Hall (Community Energy England) ? Jan Hicks (Science and Industry Museum, Manchester) ? Jonny Morgan (Electricity North West) ? Toby Park (Behavioural Insights Team) ? Helen Peavitt (Science Museum) ? Patrick Russell (British Film Institute) ? William Swan (University of Salford) ? Vanessa Taylor (University of Greenwich) ? Rebecca Wright (University of Northumbria) ? Moira Nicolson (Ofgem). The session was intended to exchange views on the effectiveness of energy-related public communication through visual means by sharing experiences and insights. There was intense discussion following presentations and conversation was revolved around the use of creative methods for energy communication. After the session, the project PI was invited to a workshop at the University of Plymouth on energy data visualisation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mce/activities/second-knowledge-exchange-session-29-march-2019/ |
| Description | Skype meeting with Prof Wim Elving |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | PI had a Skype meeting with Prof Wim Elving of Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen, the Netherlands. Potential collaboration between the project and the Hanze University's several projects on energy-related communication work has been discussed and agreed on, including Prof Elving's participation to the project conference as a speaker. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Study event for Saijo High School, Japan at Science Museum London, 11 Dec 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Shin (PI) organised a study event for Saijo High School, Japan, at the Science Museum London. The event's main theme was societal responses to natural disasters. Shin gave a lecture on climate change adaptation strategy in the UK and its relation with energy use. The participants (twenty students, 16-17 years old) appreciated the comparative perspective provided by the event, as they have been conducting research on disaster responses in Japan and had no prior knowledge about the situation in the UK. Some students remarked that they learned to see the topic from a global perspective. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://saijo-h.esnet.ed.jp/blogs/blog_entries/tag/page:3/id:58?frame_id=8 |
| Description | Third Knowledge Exchange Session 'Public Participation as Communication' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The third knowledge exchange session discussed public participation as a means to communicate energy-related knowledge and information. Anna Woodham (King's College London) presented insights from her recent research project 'Energy in Store'. Helen Pallet (University of East Anglia) discussed public engagement in the energy sector, based on her recent report for UK Energy Research Center. Jonathan Atkinson (Carbon Co-op) reported on participatory activities organised by Carbon Co-op such as the organisation's meetings to consider energy futures with the organisation's members. Jon Hall's (Community Energy England) talk delineated the work of Community Energy England to assist the work of local energy groups to enhance their ability to engage with local communities. Bradon Smith (University of Bristol) gave a talk based on a series of public engagement activities he had been involved, including a project to get young students involved in the public discussion on energy by incorporating them in a project as active researchers. Other participants were: ? Ben Russell (Science Museum London) - Catherine Butler (University of Exeter) ? Sarah Darby (University of Oxford) ? Bob Fenton (EDF Energy) ? Paul Coleman (Science and Media Museum) ? William Swan (University of Salford) ? Moira Nicolson (Ofgem) ? Patrick Russell (British Film Institute) ? Poppy Walter (BEIS) The meeting's aim was to learn from recent public engagement trials and consider new opportunities for public engagement. Cross-sector learning was achieved. For instance, a delegate from EDF Energy expressed interest in having more information about the approach employed in the 'Energy in Store' project, as the project's focus on 'external expert enthusiasts' may present EDF Energy a new target audience for its public engagement strategy. The participants also gained a better understanding of the work conducted by local energy groups and campaign bodies, which were at the forefront of public engagement. Overall, the participants reported that the session opened their eyes for innovative methods for public engagement. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.bbk.ac.uk/mce/activities/third-knowledge-exchange-session-public-participation-as-communi... |
| Description | podcast After Oil 3: Volatile Trajectories Podcast Series 'Museums of the Future' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Shin appeared in the 'Museums of the Future' episode of After Oil 3: Volatile Trajectories Podcast Series. The episode is available on YouTube. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUphrqAXx4w&t=1s |
| Description | project webpage, Science Museum Group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | As part of the Science Museum Group research website, a dedicated project page has been launched. The page will be linked to the SMG Research & Public History Department website. Regular updates on the project will be featured over the lifetime of the project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://group.sciencemuseum.org.uk/projects/communicating-material-cultures-of-energy-five-challenge... |