New climate survey hopes to improve public understanding
There is an overwhelming consensus among scientists on the causes of climate change − with 97 percent agreeing that it is mainly the result of human activity. At the same time Americans question the agreement among scientists that global warning is a result of human actions. An international panel of experts from countries including Australia,…
Läs merSipping science with a Science Café
Interested in setting up a science café? Then the new web-book, Sipping science with a science café, is for you. This 130-page book looks at every aspect of science cafés – the history, practicalities, challenges, expectations and impacts. It also takes a truly global view of science cafés, with many funny and moving examples of…
Läs merScience and Society: the New Frontier
The science-society relationship is a new frontier for science policy makers, says a new report from the European Science Foundation (ESF). A special members’ forum commissioned by ESF in 2010 reached its conclusions this summer with an in depth report calling for far-reaching strategy changes and actions within the Science and Society field. This report…
Läs merMotivators for public engagement – ESOF round table
“Engagement should tap into a scientist’s core values”. “Bad engagement is worse than no engagement at all”. “The whole culture of science and society needs to be changed so each fully appreciates the other”. These were some of the views expressed when VA (Public & Science) organised a dialogue session on how to motivate scientists…
Läs merScientific Culture and its place in Swedish Society
Scientific culture in Sweden in relation to policy decisions and economic success is the subject of a new report by VA. Part of the EU-funded PLACES project, this report takes an in-depth look into how local and national policies have influenced science, research and innovation in Sweden today and over the last decades. Decisions taken…
Läs merAn in-depth day on diabetes
In one of the world’s smallest countries, the island Nauru in the Southern Pacific, half the population suffers from diabetes. The Nauruans are the fattest people in the world. Cause? The high standard of living enjoyed as a result of the country’s wealth. This wealth was created through selling the country’s indigenous and highly-demanded natural…
Läs merRRI: the Future of Science and Society in Europe
Excellent science, competitive industries and a better society are the ambitious aims of Horizon 2020, the new European framework programme for research and innovation. With a budget of €80 billion, Horizon 2020 sets out to solve some of the most challenging problems facing European society. An obvious question for VA and many others is ‘how…
Läs merLively discussion between the public and GMO researchers in Uppsala
Is it safe to eat genetically modified food? Does genetically modified food taste differently from ordinary food? Does wild and genetically modified salmon differ in appearance? These were a few questions discussed at a dialogue event on 7 December, organised by VA and Uppsala University. The public met with three GMO (genetically modified organisms) researchers who…
Läs merAsthma tests and research discussions attracted the public
How do I prevent my kids and myself from developing asthma? Is it something genetic? How can researchers and patients work together in order to find better treatments? These were a few questions discussed at a dialogue event on 19th October, organised by VA, the Karolinska Institutet and the Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association. The public…
Läs merEternal life and the ethics of cloning – engaging topics for students and researchers
Could people be made smarter by injecting stem cells into their brains? Should humans be cloned? These were a few of the questions discussed when school students met with researchers at a dialogue event in Stockholm arranged by VA and Karolinska Institutet (KI, an medical university) on 12th October. Ola Hermanson and Johan Holmberg, two…
Läs merLet’s meet a researcher!
It’s Friday night! Let’s go down town and meet a researcher! That is what the European Commission is hoping tens of thousands of people all over Europe will be saying this week. Researchers’ Night 2011 takes place on Friday, 23rd September in 320 cities and 32 countries across Europe. The ambitious aim of competing…
Läs merVA demands that society be placed at the heart of European research policy
The public should be made a key partner in the research process! This is the message from VA in response to a Green paper published by the European Commission asking for input on the future of research and innovation within Europe. Failing to take into account the views and concerns of Civil Society threatens the…
Läs merThe World’s Largest Water Experiment launched
Hundreds of thousands of school children across the globe will be measuring their local water supplies in 2011. This giant experiment will be a key part of the International Year of Chemistry, IYC.
The pupils will be measuring properties of their water supplies and looking at the purification processes. Modules involving cheap and readily available equipment will make the experiment accessible to children everywhere, of all ages, in all climates and with all…
Läs merPublic Engagement Concordat signed in the UK
A new Concordat for Engaging the Public with Research was launched this week by the UK’s research funding bodies. The Concordat aims to increase the focus on public engagement and to embed it within UK universities and research institutes. Launched by Research Councils UK (RCUK), the strategic partnership of the UK’s seven Research Councils, there…
Läs merResearchers’ Night 2010 the biggest yet
In 33 countries, 250 cities and 600 venues throughout Europe, Researchers’ Night takes place today. This is a huge increase compared to the first 33 night events arranged in 2005. As Sweden gets ready for its 6th consecutive Researchers’ Night celebrations, some are preparing for their first. CERN , the home of the Large Hadron…
Läs merInnovation beyond the lab – report from VA’s ESOF seminar
Businesses need new knowledge in order to innovate, develop and become successful. But how should these new ideas be obtained and by whom? These were the key questions discussed at an interactive seminar, organised by the Swedish association VA (Public & Science) on July 5 as part of 2010 EuroScience Open Forum in Turin, Italy….
Läs merDon’t forget about the experts!
Although essential to the dialogue process, experts are widely neglected. Most focus to date has been on public involvement, according to a recent UK report. The Use of Experts in Public Dialogue by Suzannah Lansdell, is a comprehensive guide to recruiting and rewarding experts, and getting the best out of their input. Today, there is…
Läs merAmericans hold scientists in high esteem
US citizens are increasingly concerned about the environment. They express high levels of support for government funding of research and over half of Americans think scientists have “very great prestige”. The National Science Foundation, NSF, recently published its Science and Engineering Indicators 2010. This extensive survey, carried out annually since 1978, gives an oversight into…
Läs merItalians more aware of relevance of science
Italian citizens are increasingly supportive of research. They have high trust in scientists and an increased interest in science museums and exhibitions. These are some findings of the new 2010 edition of Science and Society Facts and Figures, edited by Observa – Science and Society. However there are also less positive findings: according to 63…
Läs merSwedish researchers silenced by English law
Libel Laws in England have been used to suppress research, including Swedish results from Francisco Lacerda, Professor of phonetics at Stockholm University. Professor Lacerda and Anders Eriksson, Professor of linguistics at the University of Gothenburg, published an article in 2007 criticizing the science behind a lie detection system. The Israeli company Nemesysco who designed the…
Läs merScience so what? so everything
The title says it all! Launched by the UK government, this latest campaign aims to explain the relevance of science to our everyday lives, and also to show its importance to the economy. Many well-known figures are involved. The launch event guests included the author Terry Pratchett, businessman James Caan and the broadcaster and naturalist…
Läs merSwedes losing confidence in researchers
This article first appeared in Science & Public Affairs, December 2007 Karin Hermansson and Esther Crooks chart the decline Less than half of the Swedish public has confidence in researchers, according to a survey of 3 000 Swedes carried out by the Swedish association Vetenskap & Allmänhet, VA (Public & Science). This represents a significant percentage decrease…
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