SciDemocracy: Science, policy and public events

Feeding back public opinion

Previously, the main ways of capturing public opinion about a potentially controversial science topic have involved market research or lengthy full-scale public dialogues. However, every year, hundreds of science events go on around the country which involves debate and discussion which attract large audiences with valuable insights to share.

The objective of this project is to link these two processes – gather opinion from existing public engagement events and feed them back to policy makers in a useful, constructive way.

The British Science Association is partnering Sciencewise-ERC in this project and have identified the topic of ‘Human Development’ to investigate within this pilot. The following events are taking part:

Has the first 500 year old already been born?
7 February 2011 - Exeter Cafe Scientifiqe

Unnatural: The heretical idea of making people
8 February 2011 - Royal Institution

Controversies in Cloning
16 February 2011 - Newcastle Skeptics in the Pub

Synthetic Biology: Hype and Hope
1 March 2011 - Birmingham Cafe Scientifiqe

Reproductive Dystopias Film Festival
9 March 2011 - Cambridge University post film debate

The Origin of the Species
16 & 17 March 2011 - Post theatre discussion

Derby Café Scientifique
23 March

Meet the Gene Machine
23 March - Glasgow Science Centre

Enhancement: How far do we go?
26 March - Cambridge Science Festival