Introducing public dialogue

Amy PollardDialogue Manager, SciencewiseTwitter @AmyRPollard

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About this session (1hr)

• Introduction to public dialogue• Real life case studies• Routes to further support• Questions and discussion

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What is public dialogue?

A process of engagement that brings together members of the public, policy makers and experts

• to discuss in depth, and where possible reach conclusions about a particular issue.

• to highlight the social, ethical and practical issues raised by up-coming policies.

• to make more robust decisions reflecting (rather than at odds with) public values.

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The engagement spectrum

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Decide Announce Defend vs Engage Deliberate Decide

Costs of decisions

Costs of decisions

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What can change?

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What does it mean in practice?

• Bringing together ‘the whole system in the room’ – the public, experts and policy makers

• Independent facilitators • Clear expectations of the extent of

public influence (informing but not deciding)

• An informed discussion• Often meeting more than once,

allowing time for reflection• Evaluation afterwards

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Impact on policy

• Opens up potential for movement on controversial areas of policy

• Delivers significant cost savings• Increases responsiveness and

accountability of policy• Supports behaviour change

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Success factors

• Direct involvement of policy-makers• Policy-maker responsibility to commission• Good, timely links to policy• Scale and representation• Governance (e.g. oversight group)• Information provision• Relationship with public participants

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Sciencewise is…..

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Sciencewise Resources

Project funding and support

Dialogue & Engagement Specialists

Training and Mentoring

Social Intelligence & Research

Website

Newsletter

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Questions?

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