Cheng Helen, Dove Nicholas C, Mena Jessica M, Perez Tomás, Ul-Hasan Sabah
The Biota Project, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
The Biota Project, Merced, CA, USA.
Integr Comp Biol. 2018 Dec 1;58(6):1294-1303. doi: 10.1093/icb/icy091.
The Biota Project communicates science to populations historically ignored by the scientific community. The Biota Project is comprised of a team of young professionals from a myriad of backgrounds and locations with interests in promoting science accessibility and equity. We do this by highlighting research conducted by scientists from underrepresented groups in relatable yet underrated locations with the intention of increasing the participation of underrepresented populations in science. The Biota Project centers on the scientific definition of symbiosis as a tool for both educating and learning from its followers. We deliver stories on the environments of our own backyards by merging art and science and distributing these publicly available stories widely online through short films, media clips, drawings, paintings, blogs, and e-newsletters. This project demonstrates a fresh, transferable perspective on strengthening science communication in a way that conjoins scientific discovery with social justice through the promotion of critical thinking by its target audience. Likewise, contributors learn how to better support local communities with each new story and environment. The Biota Project thus sets a symbiotic tone for re-calibrating the balance between academics, researchers, and local communities. When science is made relevant through understanding, its quality and significance are enhanced, and public recognition of its value is increased.
生物群项目将科学知识传递给科学界历来忽视的群体。生物群项目由一群来自不同背景和地区的年轻专业人士组成，他们致力于提高科学的可及性和公平性。我们通过强调来自代表性不足群体的科学家在相关但被低估的地区所开展的研究来实现这一目标，旨在增加代表性不足群体对科学的参与度。生物群项目以共生的科学定义为核心，将其作为教育追随者并从中学习的工具。我们通过融合艺术与科学，讲述自家后院的环境故事，并通过短片、媒体片段、绘画、博客和电子通讯等形式在网上广泛传播这些公开的故事。该项目展示了一种全新的、可推广的视角，即通过促进目标受众的批判性思维，以一种将科学发现与社会正义相结合的方式来加强科学传播。同样，参与者通过每一个新的故事和环境，学会如何更好地支持当地社区。因此，生物群项目为重新校准学术界、研究人员和当地社区之间的平衡奠定了共生基调。当科学通过理解变得具有相关性时，其质量和意义会得到提升，公众对其价值的认可度也会提高。
