Moving (the KPS) house

I've been mulling over some of the new so-called "social" or Web2 software that allows easy online editing and more participation of users. I've had a bit of a chat to Trudy and we are going to try Wikispaces. It has a nice clean interface, a lot of useful features and the structure of a Wiki is not far removed from that of the old conventional web page. I'll try and have the basic structure up in the next few days so feel free to add, edit, comment. Each page in a Wiki has a discussion page, a history page and a notification option (although that will mean you having to master RSS if you don't use it).

The new KPS home is here.

Shopping for science

You may (or may not) remember me as the quietist of the three Kiwis who attended the KPS conference in Geelong nearly two years ago now. Anyway, I have many sympathies with the KPS agenda and immediately thought of KPS when I read of this European idea via a local Kiwi weblog community Public Address. Perhaps you have heard of Science shops?

They are small entities that carry out scientific research in a wide range of disciplines ­ usually free of charge and ­ on behalf of citizens and local civil society. The fact that Science shops respond to civil society's needs for expertise and knowledge is a key element that distinguish them from other knowledge transfer mechanisms.

The general idea, generating local knowledge for the community, is the nub of KPS as I understand it. Though aimed at universities I cannot see why the idea could not work at lower levels; come to think of it, I guess KPS is evidence that it can!

Enquiring minds project

This, on the surface, has some family resemblances with KPS-like work. It is still, to my mind, not as "out there" as KPS work but has some useful characteristics. The website looks to be fairly informative. The L word (L is for learning) features as does the use of digital tools (ugh).