VA is part of the EU-project ComScience, designed to test new forms of dialogue and communication about public health research. Similar meeting concepts are tested in five European countries (Sweden, Great Britain, Belgium, Germany and Spain). The meetings discusses a topic on the basis of a film. Each topic is subjected to an open dialogue with local scientific experts. The events last approximately three hours, targeting the youth and general public and are closely evaluated.
Five science topics were chosen that address immediate concerns and interests of European citizens. The four themes to be discussed during the project are asthma, diabetes and obesity, genetically modified foods and stem cells. The films and other information products used in ComScience has been developed in a previous EU project, EUSEM, but are translated and adapted for the target audiences.
In 2010 a pilot meeting in each country was conducted. VA’s pilot meeting focused on asthma and allergies.
After the development of a joint meeting concept the countries will implement four additional meetings in each country during 2011. The project structure encourages not only the exchange of information between the public and scientists but also stimulates the exchange of know-how and best practices between the communication experts. In this way, it is expected that recommendations can be put forward on how to enhance the widespread dissemination of European research in local settings while respecting regional differences and needs.
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Lively 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…
Asthma 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…
Eternal 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…
Pilot event about asthma: Don’t strangle the cat!
Asthma is prevented neither by having lots of cats or by strangling them all! This was one of the conclusions from an evening of discussion about asthma at Karolinska Institute in Solna. First a film was shown about current asthma research. Among other things, it described how children who live in the countryside and are…
