National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) forms part of the Economic and Social Research Council’s (ESRC) strategy to improve the standards of research methods across the UK social science community. NCRM was established in April 2004 with funding from the ESRC to provide more strategic integration and coordination of ESRC’s investment in research methods. NCRM provides a focal point for research, training and capacity building activities. These activities are aimed at promoting a step change in the quality and range of methodological skills and techniques used by the UK social science community, and providing support for, and dissemination of, methodological innovation and excellence within the UK.
DESIGNSCIENCE IN COLLABORATION WITH MA COMMUNICATION DESIGN AT CENTRAL SAINT MARTINS PRESENT
SCIENCE AND DESIGN: PARALLEL PROCESSES? Live debate, 20 March 2012 with support from National Centre for Research Methods
DESIGN AND SCIENCE: PARALLEL PROCESSES? The processes of design and science are considered as completely different. One is supposedly creative, the other supposedly logical. But both disciplines involve research into the world around us and put knowledge gained from careful investigation to use. Both could be viewed as solving the problems of humankind. In this sense, could the two be seen as being parallel processes? DesignScience ’s second debate will delve into these questions with the help of four exciting experts – two scientists and two designers – and you, the audience. We will ask how scientists and designers see their discipline, whether they do follow parallel processes, and whether this knowledge can be used to foster productive collaborations that could help communicate how science works?
DESIGNSCIENCE Communicating Science by Design 57 Farringdon Road, London EC1M 3JB www.design-science.org.uk info@design-science.org.uk
WHERE
THE PANELISTS:
Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design
GERAINT REES
Granary Building, 1 Granary Square, London N1C 4AA
WHEN 6.30 Registration and drinks reception 7.00 Debate starts 8.30 Post debate discussion & drinks at the Gilbert Scott, Euston Road
ABOUT DESIGNSCIENCE DesignScience is a venture between designers and science communicators, established in 2011 in response to the recognition by a growing number of scientists that improvements are needed in the communication of science beyond their community. Despite increased media attention in science communication in recent years, there remains a stark lack of presence of design or visual communication as a means of improving relationships between science and the public. DSRG aims to address this situation.
Group leader of Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging and Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Professor at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, which together represent one of the largest groupings of cognitive neuroscientists in Europe. As well as doing science, group members contribute to teaching and training other researchers and doctors at Queen Square and University College London, and providing patient care at the National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery and elsewhere.
STEPHEN CURRY Professor of Structural Biology at Imperial College working on problems related to viral replication. His lab mainly uses X-ray crystallography to elucidate the structures of proteins molecules, in an effort to shed new light on their functions. Stephen’s research and teaching interests are combined with a passion for understanding the wider role of science in society using a variety of media – the written word, audio and video.
ALEXANDRA DAISY GINSBERG Designer, artist and writer exploring the social, ethical and cultural implications of emerging technologies, especially synthetic biology. Daisy is Design Fellow on the international research project, Synthetic Aesthetics(Stanford University/ University of Edinburgh), investigating the shared territory between synthetic biology, art and design.
JOEL GETHIN LEWIS Joel is co-founder of Hellicar & Lewis established in partnership with Pete Hellicar in 2008. Cofounder of YesYesNo with Theo Watson and Zachary Lieberman who he worked with from 2008–2010. Interaction Designer at United Visual Artists 2005– 2008 and worked in the Interaction Department of Fabrica in 2004. Joel did his MA in Interaction Design at the RCA following a BSc in Mathematics and Computer Science at Imperial.
CHAIR: LEONORA OPPENHEIM A design storyteller, using word, image and form to portray local cultural, environmental and community stories to wider audiences. Leonora’s main focus is Creative Data, an initiative that communicates data and research to the public through a series of interactive design exhibitions and creative learning projects. Leonora contributes to online and print publications including Stylus, Cool Hunting, TreeHugger and House & Garden.