cc: t.m.melvin@uea.ac.uk date: Tue, 15 Aug 2006 13:03:04 +0100 from: Clare Goodess subject: Re: Exhibit so far to: s.keeley@uea.ac.uk,t.osborn@uea.ac.uk,p.jones@uea.ac.uk, k.briffa@uea.ac.uk,m.salmon@uea.ac.uk Dear all Laura is still refusing to listen to us. It certainly seems that she is still not prepared to include the global temperature time series. I don't think any of us have time to work on a leaflet now. And this does not solve the future problem. The intention is for this exhibition to be re-used in a variety of places and I doubt that she can guarantee that the leaflet will always be available. I tend to the view that we should not allow her to use the DVD for the exhibition nor a photo of the CRU Building. The tree ring material is somewhat different - so I think we have to let her use that. Though final decision should be down to Keith/Tom/Tim. Clare At 10:59 15/08/2006, Laura.Middleton@uea.ac.uk wrote: >Dear Phil, Clare, Sarah, Keith, Mike and Tim, > >Thank you for being honest about the exhibition; it is best to have a full >and frank discussion to avoid misunderstandings later! First, I would >like to thank you for your input to the exhibition so far. The effort you >have all made is absolutely vital to the integrity of the work, and the >exhibition would not be possible without the help that you have given. >The rigour of the science is the backbone of this, and I understand the >need to present this in a clear and effective way. > >I agree that the purpose of the exhibition is to reach a diverse audience >with a range of ages. The aim must be to create something which is as >accessible to the general public as possible, to the old lady with the >bunions whose new bifocals don't work, to the young dad with the screaming >children, to the occasional tourists.... >Many people among the general public are not used to reading any kind of >text and graphs and don't understand them, and others would understand >them if they had time, but they want to be entertained and will be moving >swiftly to the other things they have to do that day. This combination of >lack of familiarity and lack of time and inclination is a potent brew; >regardless of the age we are aiming at, we need to pitch it to the average >(not the most intelligent) 12 year old, and one with a short attention >span at that! > >A detailed text and many graphs and maps will simply not be read apart >from by the very few who would probably know most of it anyway. Advice we >have received from an experienced museum director and exhibitions creator >is that - exhibition research shows that the word limit per panel should >be 150-200 at most. In that length we have to make all the points we >want, ie. the most important ones. But simple and clear does not equal >"dumbed down". Any factual errors in the text must be corrected. >Creating an exhibition text is a long process of writing, re-writing and >polishing and I appreciate your help in this. A simple clear text will >reach many more people at a lesser level of detail, but will hopefully >inspire many to pursue the matters further under their own steam. Could >we reconcile this lack of description with a set of leaflets, which went >into more detail to keep next to the panels 6 so people can take them if >they want? Perhaps we could include a link to the CRU website and the >graphs and explanations not covered on the main panels. > >I hope the above explains why I have approached the material in the way >that I have. I'm looking forward to working with you to create the best >exhibition that we can and inspire many people in Norwich and further >afield to find out more about climate and climate change. I also feel that >some of your areas of concern will be addressed by other panels. > >I attach another draft for panel 6. If you are happy with my suggestions >then please let me know and correct any factual errors in this panel. I >look forward to hearing your suggestions. > >Best regards, Laura > > > >---------------------------- Original Message ---------------------------- >Subject: Fwd: Re: Fwd: RE: Re: Panel 7 >From: "Clare Goodess" >Date: Mon, August 14, 2006 5:59 pm >To: Laura.Middleton@uea.ac.uk >-------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 7.0.0.16 > >Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2006 16:19:02 +0100 > >To: Sarah Keeley ,Clare Goodess > >From: Tim Osborn > >Subject: Re: Fwd: RE: Re: Panel 7 > >Cc: p.jones@uea.ac.uk,k.briffa@uea.ac.uk,mike Salmon > > > >I agree. People attending the BA festival should really *learn* > >something new about science. It isn't appropriate to cut down and > >simplify things to such an extent that there is no new learning by > >the visitors/audience. The purpose is not, in my opinion, to simply > >tell people that climate is changing and something should be done... > >if that were the case then it could simply be part of some > >Defra/Tyndall Centre public engagement exercise. This is still part > >of it, of course, but far better if they come away actually > >appreciating something more about the science of climate change and > >*why* we know that climate is changing or *what* scientists are > >doing to try to learn more. If that means including some things > >that some visitors will skip over, then so be it! > > > >Tim > > > >At 16:06 14/08/2006, Sarah Keeley wrote: > >>Clare, > >>It seems a shame to not showcase CRU's work - but she also seems to > >>be cutting out so much text we cannot even adequately explain what > >>is going on on the DVD let alone anything else. > >> > >>Can we suggest to her that one panel breaks with conformity and has > >>more text on? I have double checked the agenda and we are supposed > >>to be catering for the age group 25 plus as well children- so this > >>should be ok if they will let us do it. I am concerned that the > >>exhibition is going to make the climate research carried out at CRU > >>look a bit mickey mouse. > >> > >>Sarah > >> > >Dr Clare Goodess >Climatic Research Unit >School of Environmental Sciences >University of East Anglia >Norwich >NR4 7TJ >UK > >Tel: +44 -1603 592875 >Fax: +44 -1603 507784 >Web: http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/ > http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/~clareg/clare.htm > > > > Dr Clare Goodess Climatic Research Unit School of Environmental Sciences University of East Anglia Norwich NR4 7TJ UK Tel: +44 -1603 592875 Fax: +44 -1603 507784 Web: http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/ http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/~clareg/clare.htm