ParCos Case Studies
Introduction
Welcome to the case studies section of the Participatory Communication Science of ParCos platform. In this page, we showcase real-world examples and practical insights gleaned from our work. These examples present lessons learned and provide guidance on how to apply the project's methods effectively. By exploring these case studies, you can see how ParCos tools and methods were applied in practice. We hope that with these examples, you can learn to apply these in your own context.
We have three case studies below, from three counties: UK, Belgium, and Finland. You will find summaries below and links to pages with more in-depth descriptions.
UK CASE STUDY
SUMMARY
The UK (KWMC) case study focuses on empowering the Knowle West community in Bristol through citizen science, working with local residents and stakeholders to address important issues using data. The Bristol Approach for Citizen Science, a people and issue-led methodology, guides the project and promotes citizen involvement in research and innovation. One part of case focuses on air pollution in Bristol, with citizen scientists using DIY sensors to monitor air quality at their homes. Key learnings from the project include the importance of consistent readings from air quality sensing equipment, empowering citizen scientists to create their own narratives, and effectively engaging community members through various workshops and activities, such as sonification and Minecraft.
BELGIAN CASE STUDY
SUMMARY
The case study in Brussels explores engaging audiences with varying levels of data literacy, reaching diverse audiences with data stories, and supporting scientists in data storytelling. The report builds on results from stage 1 of the case studies, focusing on weather data and targeting families and children. In collaboration with LUCA School of Arts, innovative data storytelling approaches were tested at the More Weather Exposition in Ostend. The project also aimed to deliver complex scientific stories to a wide and diverse audience, exemplified by the installation at the Knal! Festival in Leuven, which focused on astrophysical research about the sound of stars. Additionally, the project supported scientists in telling data stories through involvement in the "science communication and outreach" course at KU Leuven and the creation of a vlog about science communication at VRT.
FINNISH CASE STUDY
SUMMARY
The ParCos project's Case Study 3, led by LUT in Finland, explores the use of data comics and data drama to engage youth in scientific understanding of water quality through the story of Vesijärvi, a Finnish lake in Lahti city. The data drama event, titled "Veden Armoilla," was part of a larger event involving local high school and vocational school students, teachers, art educators, and ParCos researchers. The event combined arts-based framing with data comics, offering participants an immersive experience that helped them quickly grasp complex information while promoting collaboration and ideation. Insights from this case study reveal the effectiveness of the data comic and data drama approach in enhancing engagement and understanding among non-experts, and highlight the value of ParCos tools in informing participatory science storytelling.