Fact – ANSTO’s Science Week event a hit
Fact or Fiction event 20 August 201
Using popular culture to engage Sydneysiders with science, ANSTO’s new show, Fact or Fiction, proved to be a major hit for those who flocked to Science Week in Sydney. The innovative interactive show attracted hundreds of people who attended four sessions at the University of Technology, Sydney on Saturday, 20 August.
Hosts Peter Berner and Wilson da Silva showed scenes from classic science fiction hits before inviting audiences to use keypads to vote on which technologies are now a reality and which are still the stuff of daydreams. The sometimes surprising truth about the latest scientific advances was then explained by ANSTO scientists.
Rod Dowler, the organiser of the event and Team Leader of ANSTO’s Discovery Centre said that the show proved to be a great way to engage audiences with some of the latest scientific developments.
“The concept for the show was developed by ANSTO and we were fortunate to secure National Science Week sponsorship from DIISR. We’ve been delighted with the result, the event attracted people from all parts of the community, families with young children, university students and seniors. The feedback has been terrific, everyone really enjoyed hearing from ANSTO scientists and learning about what is now possible thanks to science.
“The ultimate aim of Science Week is to engage the public with science, and we believe Fact or Fiction hit the mark. Everyone loves movies, and the popular sci-fi movies that most people remember were a great place to start a conversation about science.” said Rod.
The survey ANSTO commissioned as part of the event also attracted considerable media attention, with journalists from across Australia seeking comment about how popular culture influences our thinking about science.
“The survey generated considerable media coverage for the event and importantly helped to place science in the mainstream media. Coverage included major newspapers in Sydney, Brisbane and the Northern Territory, ABC TV and national radio coverage,” Rod added.
The Fact or Fiction survey asked whether popular science fiction theories, such as time travel, invisibility cloaks and reverse cryonics were true or false.
More than three quarters of people surveyed wrongly believed microscopic life has been proven to exist on other planets, and a quarter believe light sabres exist.
In addition more than half wrongly believed hover boards, such as that used by Back to the Future’s Marty McFly, exist; and more than 40% incorrectly believed it was possible to bring people to life after they had been frozen. Women most wanted robots to do housework and nano-bots to fight disease, while men want to live out heir sci-fi fantasies, teleporting and travelling through time.
Posted Thursday 25 August, 2011