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Scientific community and Government must work smarter at engaging with the Public

Science-based organisations and Government need to make greater efforts to engage the public with the sciences, according to a new report ‘Science for All’ published on 9 February 2010 as part of the UK Science and Society strategy commissioned by the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS).

'Science for All’, identifies an urgent need to build on approaches developed in recent years for engaging the public with science in new and fresh ways. It lays out a roadmap for all science-based organisations, government and other interested groups, to commit to take action. The report, commissioned by BIS from an expert group, draws on the Government's previous consultation, and on seven pieces of wider research.

Roland Jackson, Chief Executive of the British Science Association, who chaired the expert group said:

"In our report we make explicit the different purposes and reasons for public engagement and set out a detailed action plan for increasing its effectiveness. Widely shared ownership of the action plan is essential, since so many different organisations and people are involved in public engagement, for so many different reasons. We are therefore seeking to develop an open process for developing and implementing our recommended actions. We will be exploring ideas for this over coming weeks and welcome suggestions and offers to participate and contribute.”

The report and action plan contains around 60 actions and proposed actions. It is hoped that societal groups will work in partnership with government, funders, employers and science communication organisations to deliver this action plan. Actions include:

• Ensure all public funders of the sciences have mechanisms in place to support and recognise public engagement
• All Government R&D contracts to the private sector to require delivery of an appropriate plan for public engagement
• Develop a competency framework for public engagement, and explore how these competencies might be embedded into existing or developing professional development frameworks
• All scientific research papers with any public interest dimension to have a plain English summary giving context and implications, for public and media consumption
• Set up a pilot ‘public compact’, to enable concerted action on national issues by government, public sector bodies, businesses and members of the public
• DCMS and publicly-funded cultural institutions to demonstrate commitment to recognising science as a part of our culture
• Explore and promote the role of social media as a mechanism for engagement with the sciences

For more information and to read the full report please visit
www.britishscienceassociation.org/scienceforall

Posted: 10th March 2010

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