Science, Trust and Public Engagement

The year 2000 saw publication of the Phillips Inquiry into the BSE crisis, the House of Lords report on Science and Society, and the establishment of public commissions on human genetics and agricultural biotechnology. The Public Understanding of Science approach was increasingly complemented by Public Engagement in Science, and in 2005 Sciencewise-ERC was created as a systematic new approach to upstream public involvement – using public dialogue to inform policy that involves significant elements of science and technology, from investment in innovation to regulation of risk.

Project Aims

Science, Trust and Public Engagement: Exploring future pathways to good governance, seeks to review key lessons about the governance of science, emerging technology and innovation policy since 2000. It will do this by interviewing institutions and champions of public dialogue, accountability and social responsibility (Strand 1) while also supporting a series of action learning mini projects on emerging ways to embed societal accountability in policy (Strand 2).

Strand one - Project Objectives

Key objectives of Strand one of the project are to Better understand trends and opportunities for the role of public engagement in the governance of policy involving science and technology over the next 10 years. The project will:

• Synthesise insights from the last ten years of practice (including Sciencewise-ERC and other public engagement initiatives) to identify what has worked, what gaps exist, and what new ideas, challenges and opportunities are emerging
• Horizon scan future and existing science and emerging technology topic areas that are likely to spark controversy and debate through to 2020
• Identify potential focal points for improved public engagement processes, particularly in the context of recent coalition governance priorities
• Explore possible institutional reforms and innovations for developing these governance processes and mechanisms in relation to science and technology

View the project page for 'Science and Trust'

Strand Two – Project Objectives

A potential second phase of the project (to be rolled out after and alongside the commissioning of Strand One) will work with government departments and core partners to develop action research and public engagement experiments that build on contacts and learning from Strand One. Match funded grants may be made available directly to these departments and organisations to support them with their learning or experiment. These further stages might include:

• Co-design and (if time allows) test a range of new or evolved public engagement mechanisms (some within government institutions) that respond to specific opportunities / challenges in governance and regulation, and have strong potential value (in terms of better policy, feasibility, efficacy, value of public investment, accountability and trust).
• Make practical recommendations that build on the results, and to encourage ongoing reflection and learning to improve practice, targeted at key governance stakeholders
• Strand Two will aim to commission several action research or pathfinder type mechanisms for building public engagement and opinions into the heart of governance and decision making (as identified and designed in Strand One). It will explore/pilot concrete examples and processes of public engagement.

Mini Project 1: Genomics, Genetics and redesign of the Human Genetics Commission

Mini Project 2: Open Data and Climate Science transparency

Steering Group

The Steering Group for this project is chaired by Dr Robert Doubleday from the University of Cambridge, and is a sub-set of the Sciencewise-ERC Steering Group.

Steering Group members – Science, Trust and Public Engagement