Science in Theatre—An Art Project with Researchers
Abstract
One of the major challenges in contemporary science is to develop new and innovative ways to engage society in science and scientific topics. One attempt to create new ways of communicating with the public has been the use of the artistic languages to explore scientific subjects. Theatre, in particular, allows the exploration of emotions, and to raise awareness of ethical and social questions. This art of expression can therefore have the power to engage people in specific subjects, the science-related included. Here, we present a creative project that articulates science and theatre in order to bridge the communication gap between researchers and the public(s). The European Researchers’ Night (ERN) is an ‘edutainment’ initiative—education plus entertainment—of the European Union that allows people to be closer to researchers and their world. The theatre company Marionet, together with researchers from the University of Coimbra, took the challenge of creating and performing a theatre play that would be part of the Researchers’ Night events. From 2009 onwards, five plays were devised and staged with the active involvement of 38 researchers, as actors, authors or sources of inspiration. In this study, we explored the involvement of the researchers in the artistic process, their motivations, limitations and professional and personal outcomes, as well as the feedback from the public regarding the potential of theatre plays to bring to light the scientific world singularities, and to disseminate scientific ideas.
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Biographies
Sara Varela Amaral (PhD) is currently a researcher at the Science Communication Office of the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology. Her work focuses on creating strategies that contribute to the enhancement of the scientific education and engagement among the population.
Mário Montenegro is the Associate Director of Gil Vicente Academic Theatre, the founder and artistic director of MARIONET theatre company, an actor, playwright and researcher.
Teresa Forte has an M.Sc. degree in clinical psychology and is currently a Marie Curie PhD research fellow at the Sapienza University in Rome.
Francisco Freitas focuses his research on sociology, risk analysis and geographical information systems (GIS) and holds extensive experience in qualitative and quantitative research methods.
M. Teresa Girão da Cruz holds a PhD in biochemical technology. Over the last years, she stepped away from the bench into a science communication career.
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Article first published online: March 27, 2017
Issue published: March 2017
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