Microscope and spectacle: On the complexities of using new visual technologies to communicate about wildlife conservation
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- 作者：Audrey Verma ; René van der Wal ; Anke Fischer
- 关键词：Public engagement ; Environmental communication ; Visual technology ; Wildlife conservation
- 刊名：AMBIO
- 出版年：2015
- 出版时间：November 2015
- 年：2015
- 卷：44
- 期：4-supp
- 页码：648-660
- 全文大小：1,286 KB
- 刊物类别：Earth and Environmental Science
- 出版者：Springer Netherlands
- ISSN：1654-7209
文摘
Wildlife conservation-related organisations increasingly employ new visual technologies in their science communication and public engagement efforts. Here, we examine the use of such technologies for wildlife conservation campaigns. We obtained empirical data from four UK-based organisations through semi-structured interviews and participant observation. Visual technologies were used to provide the knowledge and generate the emotional responses perceived by organisations as being necessary for motivating a sense of caring about wildlife. We term these two aspects ‘microscope’ and ‘spectacle’, metaphorical concepts denoting the duality through which these technologies speak to both the cognitive and the emotional. As conservation relies on public support, organisations have to be seen to deliver information that is not only sufficiently detailed and scientifically credible but also spectacular enough to capture public interest. Our investigation showed that balancing science and entertainment is a difficult undertaking for wildlife-related organisations as there are perceived risks of contriving experiences of nature and obscuring conservation aims.