I agree with Frank on the need for some thought on generic activity and
examples of what has appeared to work well in the past.
A thought I have had is that the new (and less new) Science Centres that are
now opening around the Uk offer the venue for such events to take place.
They are mostly situated in the 'public' space rather than 'academic' or
'corporate' space, most have the capacity to house public debates and are
attractive. Perhaps conference organisations should consider organising
'outreach sessions' at such venues in conjunction with their main scientific
programmes or a series of seperate events - a 'tour' / national debate.
-----Original Message-----
From: Burnet, Frank <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 05 July 2000 11:44
Subject: Dialogue
>Some thoughts on dialogue
>
>It can be of two kinds. Sporadic, taking the form of set
>piece events, like Consensus Conferences etc. or
>Continuous, achieved by inclusion of non-scientists on, for
>example, panels that make decisions about research
>priorities.
>
>Both types of initiative are likely to be taken over the
>coming months/years, but if the past is anything to go on,
>this activity will lack overall coherence, principally
>because the main players will have difficulty in agreeing a
>common agenda.
>
> So before everybody starts doing their own thing, maybe
>it's a good time to look at what kinds of generic activity
>might be carried out in unison.
>
>I have two not very stunning suggestions which I hope can
>get the ball rolling.
>
>The first relates to the development of means of promoting
>dialogue whether it be sporadic or continuous. My B'ham
>event is based on the CIBA/Novartis Foundation model. It's
>basically Question Time with the addition of a presentation
>about the subject from a non-scientist as the kicking off
>point. It sounded like it might work so I adopted it.
>However, I am sure that others either have or will develop
>other formats etc It would be very useful to find some way
>of sharing experiences/evaluations etc
>
>The second is that back in 1993 Bernard Dixon pioneered the
>inclusion of Public Awareness Programmes in scientific
>meetings. The idea being to go beyond simply ensuring that
>a conference gets press coverage, to devising events that
>both give the public opportunities to discuss/debate the
>implications for them of a particular area of scientific
>research. Interestingly, given recent emphasis on the
>importance of scientists having better understanding of
>the public, it also gives scientists a chance to encounter
>the public. Might there be ways of developing this model
>collaboratively? Say a group of conference organising
>organisations working together to develop such activities
>and ensure that the outcomes of whatever events they
>organise are disseminated? That might go some way to
>getting over the next hurdle which is finding ways of
>ensuring that the public feel that their views, once
>expressed are paid attention to by scientists. If they
>don't get that message their distrust will grow rather
>than diminish.
>
>Hope this triggers some reactions/proposals/protestations.
>
>
>----------------------------------------
>Dr Frank Burnet MBE
>Principal Lecturer in the Public Understanding of Science
>School of Interdisciplinary Sciences
>UWE
>Coldharbour Lane
>Bristol
>BS16 1QY
>
>e-mail [log in to unmask]
>tel 0117 976 3879
>fax 0117 976 3871
>mobile 07881 580523
>
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