Learning to Generate Dialogue: Theory, Practice, and Evaluation

Over the past decade in the UK, communities of scientists, governmental bodies, and informal learning organizations have increasingly promoted public engagement with science. One of the most visible features of these efforts within museums is the staging of adult-focused, face-to-face forums-commonly called dialogue events-that bring scientific and technical experts, social scientists, and policymakers into discussion with members of the public about contemporary science-based issues. This article clarifies the difference between non-policy-informing dialogue events and other interactions in museums. It then describes how one institution, the Science Museum's Dana Centre, London, has conceptualised, implemented, and refined its understanding of dialogue events based on iterative processes of theory-building, practice, and evaluation. It concludes by outlining future directions for promoting a broader culture of engagement through dialogue related to science and society.