KAREN SIUNE

MASIS

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Challenging Futures of Science in Society

Emerging trends and cutting-edge issues

KAREN SIUNE

MASIS

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The MASIS Expert Group reporting to the European Commission (2009)

Chair: Karen Siune (Denmark)

Rapporteur: Eszter Markus (Hungary)

Members:

Marina Calloni, (Italy)Ulrike Felt, (Austria)Andrzej Gorski, (Poland)Armin Grunwald, (Germany)Arie Rip, (The Netherlands)Vladimir de Semir, (Spain)Sally Wyatt (UK/The Netherlands)

KAREN SIUNE

MASIS

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Motto:

Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 27:

Everyone has the right freely

to participate in the cultural life of the community,

to enjoy the arts and

to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.

KAREN SIUNE

MASIS

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Mandate of the MASIS Expert Group

From Science and Society (FP6)

To Science in Society (FP7)

› What are the challenges?

› What are the trends?

› What are the cutting edge issues?

KAREN SIUNE

MASIS

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Action lines in SiS

› From public understanding to public engagement

› Governance

› Communication

› Strenghtening potential

› The role of law

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MASIS

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Questions we discussed in MASIS expert group:

› What is the role of science in society?

› What is the place of science in society?

› What are the trends?

› Is there something that is European?

› What are the cutting edge issues?

› What are the challenging futures?

KAREN SIUNE

MASIS

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What is the place of science in society?

› Ongoing transformations

› Recontextualisation of science

› Strategic research

› Tensions and frictions

› Cultural diversity

› Revival of excellence

› Democratisation of science

KAREN SIUNE

MASIS

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Uses of science in society

› The innovation dimension; ensuring economic growth

› The quality of life dimension; health

› The political dimension; expert advice to policy makers and to the public

› The cultural dimension; respecting cultural diversities

› The intellectual dimension; sustainable development!

KAREN SIUNE

MASIS

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Social actors as stakeholders

› What is at stake?

› Who are the stakeholders?

› Increase in number of stakeholders!

› Different types of stakeholders

› Cutting edge issues:

› Disagreements about the role of science between different types of stakeholders

KAREN SIUNE

MASIS

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Governance and the Role of Science in Society

› Science and policy making

› Governance of scientific institutions

› Scientific integrity, academic freedom

› Ethicisation, the role of norms

› The role of law?

› The role of technology assesments

› Democratisation

KAREN SIUNE

MASIS

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Governance

› A theme in research-policy studies

› Governance includes structures and processes within decision making

› Who is trying to influence the policy process?

› How to engage citizens in research policy?

› Good research is something that can make citizens life better!

› Good research is something that can give economic growth to Europe

KAREN SIUNE

MASIS

12

Strengthening potential

› Strengthening ERA!

› Global mobility

› Human capabilities

› Science carreers

› Cutting edge issue: Industrialized science?

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MASIS

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Inclusiveness, equal treatment and equal chance

› Women in science:

A new quality of science? Capabilities!

› Young people in science:

Making science more attractive!

› Minorities:

Diversity as richness!

KAREN SIUNE

MASIS

14

Science communication

From transmission to transaction (trend)

Communicating science:

› – Why and what?

› – By whom, to whom and how?

Public understanding of science (cutting edge issue)

Challenges in the internet age!

KAREN SIUNE

MASIS

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A European model of SiS?

Components of a European model:

› Joint policies

› Researchers educated across Europe

› Networks European and global

› Mobility globally

› Awareness of the opportunities in a European model

› Willingness and interest at national/European level

› Problems related to a standardized European model

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MASIS

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Challenging Futures:

Will values that unify EU prevail?

or will values that show differences prevail?

Differences acknowledged are:

› Cultural

› Social - educational

› Political

› Economic and in research traditions

KAREN SIUNE

MASIS

17

Emerging European identity?

Science in society can have a role to play

in creating greater European identity

by embracing the diversity of national values.

That is a challenging future!

KAREN SIUNE

MASIS

18

Increased communication

Dissemination of all scientific results is necessary

All means of communication shall be used:

› Traditional media as well as

› New internet based forms.

It is a challenge to engage and activate citizens!

KAREN SIUNE

MASIS

19

How to engage citizens?

› Information provided is not enough!

› Public understanding is not enough!

› Citizens must be empowered! How?

› Democracy can take many forms!

› What difference can law make?

› Will European citizenship increase participatory practise? Cutting edge issue!

KAREN SIUNE

MASIS

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Challenging futures

› Diversified Europe

› Growing number of stakeholders

› Not all want publicity – differences in values

› Growing public distrust

› Changing mode of knowledge creation

› Accountability requirements

› How to allow for dynamic governance?