Dear All,

Apologies for cross posting.

Yesterday we launched Change Exchange, one of the national projects for National Science and Engineering Week (5-16 March 2009)! This will run from now until the end of the Week, go to www.changeexchange.org.uk

Change Exchange is a social forum, where people of all ages can submit comments about their hopes and concerns for the future, and discuss these directly with scientists, engineers and each other. 

What scientific advances would you like to see?
What should scientists and engineers be concentrating on?
Is there anything that concerns you?

This is a chance for everyone to air their opinions! So what are you waiting for?

Are you a scientist or engineer?
We think its really important to get expert opinions on what might be possible, whether people’s concerns are unfounded or whether their hopes are closer to realisation than they think. Therefore, we want the public to have the chance to discuss these issues with the UK’s scientists and engineers. This is also the chance for scientists and engineers to voice their own hopes and concerns for the future!

We need your support.
We are relying on scientists and engineers to take part, and to make this project a success! We would like as many people as possible to take part, making the discussions lively and informative.

It could be just 10 minutes of your time, it can be done anonymously, and will simply involve the following:

1. Going to www.changeexchange.org.uk and register on the website as a scientist or engineer. This is a simple and straightforward process.
2. Submitting a comment of their own. What are their hopes or concerns for the future?
3. If they feel they can reply, what they think personally or professionally about some of the public’s comments.

 

Examples of comments we have from non-scientists or engineers so far:

KatieKate aged 26-34 has written:

Healthy lives in the 80+. I hope that we will be able to find a cure for many of difficulties people face in old age, so that we can live fuller lives for longer. Also, have we reached the maximum lifespan possible?

Scifan aged 26-34 has written:

How can the common cold still be a problem in this day and age?  I hope that one day scientists will manage to develop a cure/successful treatment for the common cold. Or is this simply unachievable?

Nae99 aged 26-34 has written:

Integration. I hope that computing technology is going to get more and more portable and that integrated devices will soon exist that are cheap and easy to use. I'd love a mobile, camera, camcorder, mp3 player that's all in one. I know these exist already but they aren't yet that powerful and also some of the components tend to be gimmicks rather than really high quality gadgets.

 

__________________________________
We are now the British Science Association
We are a charity that works with members, supporters and partners towards a shared vision of a society in which people are able to access science, engage with it and feel a sense of ownership about its direction. You can find us at www.britishscienceassociation.org.

Jenny Beard
National Science and Engineering Week Officer
British Science Association
Wellcome Wolfson Building
165 Queen's Gate
London
SW7 5HD

T: +44 (0)20 7019 4937
F: +44 (0)20 7581 6587
E: [log in to unmask]
Website: http://www.britishscienceassociation.org

British Science Association is the operating name and registered trademark of the British Association for the Advancement of Science

 

Registered charity: 212479 and SCO39236

Please consider the environment before printing this email

______________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System.
For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email
______________________________________________________________________