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Science and Society:EU Strategy and actions

Dr. Rainer GEROLDDirector Science and SocietyResearch DGEuropean Commission

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Eurobarometer Survey 2001Member States

Divergent views on science and society among the European population:

• 80 % of Europeans believe that science will one day overcome diseases such as AIDS or cancer, but…

• 46% of Europeans are both uninformed and uninterested in science Highest level of interest and knowledge: in Sweden

• Citizens do not always trust science and scientists: 80 % believe authorities should oblige scientists to observe ethical rules

• Young people do not find scientific studies and careers very attractive

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Science & Society Action PlanGenesis

• January 2000: “Towards a European Research Area”

• November 2000, Working Document entitled “Science, society and the citizen in Europe”, which was dealt with by the CREST.

• The Council asked the Member States and the Commission to promote science in society,and invited the Commission to submit its action plan on science and society issues by the end of 2001(Council Resolution June 2001).

• December 2001, the Commission presented the Action Plan on Science and Society.

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Science & Society Action Plan

• The Science and Society Action Plan is built on examples of best practices in the Member States.

• The Action Plan can only be implemented in close cooperation with the Member States.

• Numerous players are involved: local and regional public authorities, the general public, civil society, industry, …

• The Commission acts as a catalyst, using all the means available in particular in FP6 (networking, supporting actions, etc.)

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• Public awareness• Science education and careers• Dialogue with citizens

• Involving civil society• Producing gender equality in science• Research and foresight for society

• The ethical dimension in science and new technologies• Risk governance• The use of expertise

Promoting scientific education and culture

in Europe

A science policy closer to the citizens

A responsible science at the heart of policy making

Science and Society Action Plan

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How to increase public awareness?

– European Science Week &Coordination of national Science Weeks

– Embedding of Science Communication in all EU projects (transparency)

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How to attract young people to science ?

To ensure of having enough researchers in the future

– Science Education initiative

– EU Young Scientists Contest

– A dialogue in each MS on the issue of human resources on Science, engineering and technology is required to meet the Lisbon objectives

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How to encourage women in scientific research?

• Statistics to monitor progress on involving more women in science “she figures” – “leaky pipeline” – Helsinki Group

Up-to-date statistics and indicators

• Mainstreaming:Integrating the gender dimension in FP6 projects

• Women in Industrial research:

To analyse and improve the role and the

participation of women in industrial research

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How to enhance European dialogue and ethical awareness of researchers?

• Networking of ethical committees at national and at local level :Forum of national ethics councils (dialogue),organised once by each EU presidency

• Ethical review of FP projects

• Special attention on new EU Member States and on developing countries (dialogue, training, courses)

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How to enhance the link between science and policy making?

By mutual learning:

• Guidelines on the collection and use of expertise

Improving the knowledge base for better policies

• SINAPSE Scientific INformAtion for Policy Support in Europe

Web tool facilitating exchange of information within the scientific community and other actors concerned by science

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Science and/in Society

Why on European level?

• Integral part of Framework Programme

• Dimension of the European Research Area:– Mutual learning through

« open coordination »

• Necessary for building the European Knowledge Society

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The 3 Pillars Approach

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PillarsPillars

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European Forum onScience and Society - 2005

• Science and Society showcases

• Assessment of the Science and Society Action Plan, to see how far Science and Society activities contribute to the Lisbon and Göteborg objectives

• Science & Society in the new EU science policy: - Debates on cross-cutting issues - Interaction with “local sites”

When and where?

9-11 March 2005 in Brussels

1Show cases

Seeing is believing

e.g. mappingbenchmarking

e.g. tomorrow’s

societyS&S

in the new EU science

policy

…

SCIENTIFIC CULTURESCIENTIFIC CULTURE

SOCIETYSOCIETY POLICYPOLICY WH

AT N

EX

T ?

Acto

rs+

Govern

men

ts+

Com

mis

sio

n

2

CORE ISSUES *3

NATIONAL SITES

…

…

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SHOWCASES

* CORE ISSUES will be defined 5 months prior to the event, through normal consultation processes

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Further information

• Info Desk:rtd-sciencesociety@cec.eu.int

• Work programme, Information on the calls for proposals, Info-packs: available via Internet:

– http://www.cordis.lu/science-society/

• Call for expressions of interest:

– http://www.cordis.lu/eoi/science-society/

• Science and Society on the web:

– http://europa.eu.int/comm/science-society/