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THEME 6: INCREASING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WITH SCIENCE
Main issues
1. With science issues and innovation increasingly playing a part in every person's life, it is becoming ever more important that citizens are able to make informed and responsible choices, whether as consumers, as parents influencing a child's career direction, as voters, or as "users" of the natural environment. Further, in a "science nation", science should be an overt part of our culture like our literature, music etc - a source of enjoyment, excitement and pride. However this is against a backdrop of media commentary on science that has been rather negative in recent years. It is clear that science can only proceed at the pace at which society becomes comfortable with the ethical and other societal issues that may be raised.
2. We need to:
- be able to understand and evaluate for ourselves what scientists tell us
- develop a better sense of ownership and participation in the achievements of our scientists
- continually improve the dialogue and interaction between the public and the science and innovation community shown in Figure 1
- ensure that this community is increasingly delivering science education to the public in a way that captures its interest, answers its concerns and is inclusive to all citizens.
3. From this would grow mutual trust and stronger public support for new scientific ventures. This would in turn help to build the reputation of Scotland as an attractive place to develop science. Building this virtuous circle will require sustained effort over a number of years. These issues are explored further in Scottish Science Centres Network Strategy7, which the Scottish Executive published at the end of last year jointly with the four Scottish science centres.
4. While the current focus of the Executive's efforts is through the Science Centres Network Strategy, views are sought in this consultation on what else can and should be done to increase public engagement with science.
Commitments and actions from the Progress Report on the science strategy
5. In responding to this consultation it would be helpful to have views on the following proposed aspirations and actions.
Long term aspirations
We will:
- Promote understanding, appreciation and engagement with science by all levels of society through informal science education
- Promote better co-ordination of informal science learning and community access activities
- Encourage dialogue between scientists and the public on science issues
- Link in to Science and Society activity at a UK and European level
Short to medium term action points
- Take forward the four-year Scottish Science Centre Network Strategy published in December 2005, which describes the collaborative strategic objectives of the four science centres in respect of:
- ensuring that their programmes complement and enhance, and are consistent
- with developments in Science Curriculum 3-18
- enhancing links between the centres and with further and higher education institutions and with industry, seeking improved collaboration with the science research base on appropriate mechanisms for dissemination of scientific knowledge
- Encourage science as a career choice
- Forge synergies and complementarities with other science and society delivery partners
- Ensure that our public dialogue focus is reflected in our programmes in support of public engagement with science and technology
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