Public Computation & Boundary Play

TL;DR

This paper introduces 'public computation' as a new learning environment genre that enhances public participation in STEM by enabling direct interaction with scientific code and simulations in public spaces, exemplified by the DigiPlay case study.

Contribution

It presents a novel framework for public engagement in scientific practices through open source software and boundary play in public spaces, exemplified by DigiPlay.

Findings

Public interactions with code serve as boundary work and play.

Public participation can be a legitimate scientific act.

Open-ended exploration fosters scientific creation.

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce 'public computation' as a genre of learning environments that can be used to radically broaden public participation in authentic, computation-enabled STEM disciplinary practices. Our paradigmatic approach utilizes open source software designed for professional scientists, engineers and digital artists, and situates them in an undiluted form, alongside live and archived expert support, in a public space. We present a case study of DigiPlay, a prototypical public computation space we designed at the University of Calgary, where users can interact directly with scientific simulations as well as the underlying open source code using an array of massive multi- touch screens. We argue that in such a space, public interactions with the code can be thought of as boundary work and play, through which public participation becomes legitimate scientific act, as the public engages in scientific creation through truly open-ended explorations with the code.