New roadmap for public dialogue in science and technology

Public engagement experts have published a new collection of essays setting out their view of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in creating greater public involvement in policy-making in science and technology.

'The Road Ahead: Public Dialogue on Science and Technology' sets out a picture of how far the UK has come in public dialogue and offers some new thinking on engaging members of the public in science decisions in the future. It aims to provide policy makers and dialogue deliverers with insights into how dialogue could be used in the future to strengthen the links between science and society.

Leading scientist and TV presenter Lord Robert Winston, who regularly speaks on scientific issues in the House of Lords, has written one of the essays, 'Why Turning Out Brilliant Scientists Isn't Enough'. He said:

"The remarkable creativity of science is an integral part of human culture and it needs to be thought of in this way. Public dialogue has now been part of the research process for several decades but the way in which it's performed and used continues to be debated."

"Good dialogue must underpin science and it's vital that we continue to move away from mere public understanding of science to true two-way engagement."

"The Road Ahead" has been produced by the Sciencewise Expert Resource Centre for Public Dialogue in Science & Innovation (Sciencewise-ERC). The eight essays - by policy makers, prominent leaders in the field of science engagement, and dialogue participants - review the development of public dialogue in science over the past few years and raise questions about its future direction.

The collection is introduced by Professor Kathy Sykes who is the head of the Sciencewise-ERC Steering Group, and Jack Stilgoe, a DEMOS associate, who compiled the collection.

The Road Ahead was been launched by the Sciencewise-ERC (which is funded by the new department of Business Innovation and Skills) at the British Science Association Conference in London. It can be downloaded from the Sciencewise Expert Resource Centre at www.sciencewise-erc.org.uk/cms/the-road-ahead/