Scientists spoke about how scientists are now becoming established authorities, and various scientific projects compete with each other. popularizers.
Scientists said the following about their project: “Real Science” is a project of like-minded scientists who care about the future of Ukrainian science. We started it 3.5 years ago — as a small seminar-platform for scientists to communicate in the Kyiv House of Scientists. We chose topics that were closest to the scientific topics of the seminar authors: information technologies, mathematical modeling, climate change, economics. A little later, we began to expand the audience — students, teachers, and simply interested people joined us. The topics also expanded, biology, physics, social sciences, and humanities were added. We held seminars both in the Kyiv House of Scientists and open spaces, and online, already more than 60 lectures on various topics. We saw that schoolchildren started coming to us, and we realized that this is the most grateful audience — they are interested, and the lectures can influence their decision about their future profession. Therefore, we decided to submit this project for funding from the Public Budget. We went through all stages of the competition: from expert evaluation and open voting, which was the most intense competition, to the final approval in the list of winners. We received 832 votes from Kyiv residents in support of the project despite periodic technical difficulties with voting. It was especially pleasant to read reviews about the need for our lectures from those who had already attended them or were even getting acquainted with the idea for the first time. There were not many scientific projects for the general public at the competition — there were also “Science Picnics”, “Medical Picnics” and “Science Days”, annual science festivals. There was also “Science Square” — a space where you could marvel at experiments in physics and mathematics in the fresh air (unfortunately, it did not pass). Other projects close to science — engineering, robotics, rocketry — had a more narrowly thematic or local purpose. Although, of course, they are also needed.
Large-scale popular science events such as “Science Days” and “Science Picnics” have become very popular, but they take place several times a year. And there is a demand for popular science events at other times as well. Lectures in schools should partially satisfy the demand for popular science for children. A demand for self-development and lifelong learning is currently being formed in society, so our lectures are of great interest. Since each Kyiv resident has 5 votes to choose where to direct part of the city budget, scientific projects did not compete with each other, but rather, on the contrary, had joint support from those interested in the development of Kyiv residents. (…) Our lecturers are leading scientists who know how to captivate with science. For students of Kyiv schools, they adapt materials in such a way as to maximize the audience’s interest in their topic. From the beginning of 2021, 5-8 lectures per month will be held in different schools. To listen to a lecture, it will be enough to go to the website, choose a topic and book a time. For all Kyiv residents, we continue monthly lectures in online and offline formats. Lectures “for adults” (for a wide audience) take place 1-2 times a month, each time on a new topic. For those who were unable to attend the events directly, video lectures will be recorded and edited with free access on the Youtube channel and distributed via social networks. Of course, adults come to lectures already quite prepared and understand why they need certain information - here you cannot do without the thorough knowledge of a scientist. Children need to be interested, made to get them involved in the process - in this regard, speaking in front of children is more difficult. (…) The number of those who are ready to share and talk about their field of knowledge is gradually increasing. Some come to listen, a lively discussion is started between specialists, and we see who should be invited to speak to the public next time. Or scientists themselves take the initiative, observing the successful events of their colleagues. Medical and biological topics are quite popular, because they seem closer to everyone and are needed in everyday life. There is interest in topics related in one way or another to IT, from numerical modeling and game theory to deep neural networks and information security technologies. The process of popularization was started by scientists themselves: they offer ideas for lectures, learn to talk about science in an interesting way. So far, we have no competition among science-pop content, because the offer is still small. But if society did not need it, such initiatives would not sprout and develop. Another question is when it will become interesting to society so much that it will be willing to pay for this content. Then, with the help of competition, we will have a higher-quality science-pop product. (…) It is nice to see that the opinion of scientists is gaining weight in society. Having excellent analytical skills, they are able to aptly and vividly describe the situation and offer a way to solve it based on knowledge, logic and experience. Such people - without pathos - are our intellectual elite. Actually, this is one of the goals of the project: to make the voice of science heard and taken into account when making important decisions.
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According to the information agency "Weekend"