Dear Roland and all
Many thanks for opening up this interesting discussion. From my own perspective, I am really interested in the next survey unpicking the finding that I keep coming back to from the last one - that people want the public to be involved in debate about science policy but don't personally want to be involved. Maybe it is just human nature and insurmountable, but it is something that, in my role, I would nevertheless like to try to understand a bit better. Exploring some of the subtleties behind this challenge may throw out some practical and useful solutions.
From a quick re-read, the previous survey appeared to major on public engagement with science policy, regulation and decision-making, with the science process and 'machine', and with science issues. Possibly, these are things that publics may not feel they have any interest in, knowledge of, or indeed the right to seek to influence - often despite being invited to. Alongside, given the word "science" can be off-putting for many, I do wonder if the previous survey's findings reflect these hurdles. It does make me wonder if we are couching our invitations to the public to get involved correctly, whether our profession's language is a barrier, or whether we are just inviting them to the wrong party?
I would be very interested to explore whether the findings would be any different if the word "science" were kept out of dialogue, in the back pocket, at least initially. I would agree with Hilary's comments entirely. For me the challenge is about gradually bringing out the science behind issues that people relate to but don't at all think of as being science, things that people are passionate and care deeply (or even superficially) about in their everyday lives - which is probably not science policy and regulation but rather a much wider range of everyday policies that science informs or relates to in some way.
It may be that I have missed something in the last survey that has done exactly this - and I'm sure if that's the case someone will tell me!
All the best
Ben
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