Science and society project extended to two more countries
An EU supported science and society project which has been successfully piloted in France is to be extended to Sweden and Italy. 'Science generation', which receives 1.44 million euro from the European Commission, plans to bring the bioscience issues closer to decision makers, policy makers, the media and the public in general. A series of meetings, opinion polls and the creation of a research related network will be the main activities of the initiative, along with the stimulation of debate on a specialised website. Having been launched in France two years ago by the Aventis-Institut de France foundation, 'Science generation' will now be taken to Italy and Sweden through FAST (federazione delle associazioni scientifiche e tecniche) and IVA (Royal Swedish academy of engineering sciences) respectively. The two institutes are part of EURO CASE (European council of applied science and engineering) which is a partner in the Science generation programme. Both will be introducing the initiative in three areas of their respective countries; in Lombardy, Lazio and Sicily in Italy and in Stockhom, Gothenburg and Skåne in Sweden. The rationale for selecting these two countries, according to Dr Alberto Pieri, secretary-general of FAST, is to see if the project can work in both northern and southern European countries. 'If the French experience is positive in both Italy and Sweden, we can create it on a wider basis, maybe even in the candidate countries,' he said. The project will run for three years in both Italy and Sweden and, while there will be information on specific national activities, there will also be international collaboration, particularly through the website. EU Commissioner for Research, Philippe Busquin said that this project would play an important part in explaining biosciences. 'We are not just saying that it is important to have a wide public debate on life sciences, we are giving it concrete support,' he said. 'The purpose of Science generation is to give the public a say in the development of life sciences so they can freely express their expectations and concerns.' Five inter-regional working groups will begin in September 2002. They will focus on bringing science closer to daily life; making schools more open to science; making scientific information more accessible; fostering more solidarity between richer and poorer countries and; creating science for the citizen. Debates on the projects website, www.science-generation.com will focus on themes such as access to healthcare in southern hemisphere countries and therapeutic versus reproductive cloning.
Countries
France