Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS)

BIS Public Engagement with Science and Technology Team

The Science and Society team at the Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS) supports the Government’s vision for a society that is confident about the development, regulation and use of science and a well qualified science workforce that is representative of the society is serves.

The team aims to:

Ensure sufficient scientists and engineers for the UK economy. The BIS Public Engagement with Science and Technology Team the Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS), which funds the Sciencewise-ERC,  supports the Government’s vision for a society that is confident about the development, regulation and use of science and a well qualified science workforce that is representative of the society is serves.

The Department’s Science & Society team aims to:

• Ensure sufficient scientists and engineers for the UK economy
• Ensure young people are enthused to engage with science as active future citizens
• Improve public engagement and support for science and innovation
• Increase public confidence in the use and management of science

The Science and Society work is managed in three complementary strands:

1. Science Workforce

• Promoting science engineering and technology (SET) for women and ethnic minorities
• Promoting science education in schools, including STEMNET
• Research careers (PhD & contract researchers) including implementing the Roberts Review through Research Councils.

2. Public Engagement & Partnerships

• Promoting public engagement and dialogue about science and technology and the issues that it raises for society
• Maintaining an overview of science and society work across Government
• Developing partnerships for improved collaboration and networking
• Providing information on public attitudes towards science and technology.

3. Communications

• Implementing external communications strategies for BIS
• Liaising between the BIS and the Houses of Commons and Lords Select Committees on science and technology issues.

The Public Engagement team is particularly responsible for raising public awareness, engagement and support for science and technology by enabling citizens across all social groups to engage with science constructively and ensuring that scientists and policy makers recognise and address the public’s priorities and concerns.

The Head of Public Engagement, with responsibility for the Sciencewise-ERC, is Karen Folkes, who took up her post in April 2007.