HR: 1330h
AN: ED32C-1221    [PDF]
TI: Fiction and scientific communication about volcanoes for the young public
AU: * Gaonach, H
EM: helene@thermos.geotop.uqam.ca
AF: GEOTOP-UQAM-McGill, Universite du Quebec … Montreal, Montreal, Qc H3C 3P8 Canada
AU: Drouin, V
EM: virodesign@hotmail.com
AF: GEOTOP-UQAM-McGill, Universite du Quebec … Montreal, Montreal, Qc H3C 3P8 Canada
AB: Since January 2002, I have developed a new type of interactive web site for scientific news and communications about volcanic activities on the Earth and in our solar system. With the help of a small team (including an illustrator) based in GEOTOP at the University of Quebec in Montreal, I have created a monthly French language site on volcanoes including ongoing activity. Our multimedia site www.vickivolka.uqam.ca, combines open-style scientific news, including texts and pictures with scientific explanations. The originality lies in both the content and site structure. The monthly renewals inform the public on volcanic news but also on academic research and scientific experiments that young people can perform at home. We thus link breaking volcanic news with a deeper understanding of the processes and knowledge. Another original aspect is the use of fictional characters (Vicki and Anaky) who present the news and describe their adventures during the volcanic trips (volcanological, geographical, historic contents). Additional sections include interactive functions. Based on the success of this web site (published at the moment in French) - as evidenced notably by numerous primary school visits - we are planning to translate it in English very soon. This mixture of fiction with real world stories and scientific knowledge is an unusual effort by practising researchers and collaborators to strengthen links between the academic world and the general public, especially with children and educators.
DE: 6605 Education
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting