Report: The evaluation of national programs of science awareness

Most countries have national programs to increase the public awareness and understanding of science. The assumption behind these programs is that a sc ientifically literate population will ultimately lead to a healthy and econ omically prosperous country. How do we know if these programs achieve their aims? Are they evaluated, and if so, what methods are used? This report lo oks at the way the Australian Science and Technology Awareness Program has been evaluated and comments on the limitations of the methods used. It prop oses a simple five-point model for evaluation. The conclusion is that the c redibility of programs designed to enhance the public communication of scie nce and technology will be questioned and funding threatened unless science communicators devote more resources to evaluation. On May 30, 2001, the Sc ience and Technology Awareness Program was replaced by the National Innovat ion Awareness Strategy. a body with similar responsibilities.