About Science Agora

History

Science has now become inseparable closely related with our daily lives. The fact that many scientific issues affect our whole of society, requires the participation and engagement of diverse stakeholders— and the public—besides expert groups in the scientific community. Thus, to ensure a better tomorrow of ours, we should take one more step forward: to be willing to be more informed of, and to think together about, what science brings us and the relationship between science and ourselves.

Science communication has been a key concept in the evolving links between science and society. People who are involved in this function, known as science communicators, might be teachers at schools who impart knowledge to students, as well as mediators or interpreters who involve people in finding out the values and meanings of specific scientific outcomes, sometimes giving feedback to scientists and policymakers who drive research activities.

Since its inception in 2006, Science Agora has been offering a place for such science communication activities, the number of its participants being increasing every year. The most recent Science Agora 2012 invited 212 programs offered by 191 organizing parties, and had roughly 2,250 exhibitors served for more than 4,000 visitors during the 2-day event. Science Agora welcomes unique proposals from any geographic areas; in reality, some very ambitious ones inspire other exhibitors and presenters to apply practices in their own context. In this way, Science Agora functions as a hub to evolve the network, and create expand the definition of science communicators.

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Political Background

Science Agora is built upon on Japan's Science and Technology Basic Plan. The Third Plan (effective in FY2006-2010) includes a chapter entitled "Science and Technology to Be Supported by Society and the Public," in which promotion of science communication is described using expressions such as "Improving the Public Awareness of Science and Technology." The subsequent Fourth Plan (FY2011-2015) makes a further step forward in this effort; namely, to encourage involvement and collaboration with the public in national science and technology policy-making. Science Agora is positioned as a core place for the practice of science communication, as well as for discussions and dialogues among members of our society more broadly.

Science Agora has continued to be as open and multifaceted as possible. There are virtually no eligibility requirements for submitting proposals. Financial barriers are designed to be minimal for both exhibitors (no exhibitor fees) and participants (admission is free). Instead, it asks all the exhibitors to be communicative, and to make their presentation accessible to a wider audience. Thus, throughout the past seven events as well as the upcoming ones, it hosts not only large institutions, agencies, companies and academic societies but also individual researchers, educators, students, museum staff, freelancers, artists, comedians, and all kinds of volunteers.

Under the theme “Finding a good relationship between people and science,” Science Agora 2012 focused on communication. This was aimed at thinking and discussing together about how to establish a better relationship between science and each individual of us in order to construct a better society after the experience of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the nuclear power plant accident. As a significant outcome of this year, Science Agora succeeded in focusing on science communication not only from the perspective of introducing the pleasures and wonders of science, but also from various other viewpoints.

#	Year	Theme & Major Aim
1	2006	Creating a place of assembly where science and society are intertwined (Networking science communicators)
2	2007	Connect, and turn on the lights of future! (Broadening the field)
3	2008	Message from Japan for our future on Earth (Increasing diversity)
4	2009	Message from Japan for our future on Earth II (Sending out messages)
5	2010	A place where we think about science and our future (Expanding to new sectors)
6	2011	Planting the seeds of science for restoration from Japan earthquake
7	2012	Finding a good relationship between people and science

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Event Statistics

Science Agora enjoys steady growth. It has been contributing to expansion of networks among practitioners of excellence nationwide, and thus offers a myriad of communication opportunities for everyone at all ages.

#	Year	Date	Place	Attendance	# Programs	# Parties
1	2006	Sat-Mon, Nov. 25-27	Tokyo	1700 (estimated)	100	83
2	2007	Fri-Sun, Nov. 23-25	Tokyo	2959	94	124
3	2008	Sat-Mon, Nov. 22-24	Tokyo	6109	123	138
4	2009	Sat-Tue, Oct. 31-Nov. 3	Tokyo	8705	147	141
5	2010	Fri-Sun, Nov. 19-21	Tokyo	5934	145	146
6	2011	Fri-Sun, Nov. 18-20	Tokyo	7057	194	183
7	2012	Sat-Sun, Nov. 10-11	Tokyo	6255	212	191

Science Agora continues to reach out to science communicators in a broader sense, including sometimes those beyond conventional scientific communities. Exhibitors are expected to interact and learn on site so that the event induces improvement in their science communication skills, thereby helping deliver their experience to local activities.

Miraikan, or the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, has served as one of the main venues of Science Agora since 2006. With its neighboring institutions and surroundings, the event offered an open, festival-style atmosphere for its visitors each time.

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2012 Facts

Who exhibited? ◎ A broad spectrum of sectors joined together.	Who visited? ◎ Both children and adults enjoyed the visit.
	Age
	Gender
◎ The event showcased nationwide activities.
	Occupation
Almost half (49%) of exhibitors answered that they undertake activities outside of the greater Tokyo Area.
Visit our website for additional data, program archives (including audiovisual recordings), hundreds of links, and other resources! >> http://www.jst.go.jp/sis/scienceagora/

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