Interfaces between science & society: collecting experiences for good practice

In recent years science has come down from its academic ivory tower, and is now managed as a producer of intellectual property in a marketplace of corporate customers. There is another transformation, where science related to public policy has been brought into the forum of debate among concerned citizens. The first development has led to the industrialisation of the research enterprise. The second has led to the engagement of the public in the assessment of the relevant knowledge and the governance of its production. It is now appreciated that in a fully democratic society, science must submit to public scrutiny and participation in the appropriate ways. The task of this workshop will be to explore the implications of this new extension of democracy. The variety of interfaces between science and society will be explored, so that guidance on best practice in each area can be achieved. In every area, the workshop will be encouraged to a rounded view of the issues. Thus, while reviewing positive accomplishments and prospects for further progress, the discussion should include difficulties, disadvantages and dangers of such developments. In this way the workshop should contribute to enrichment and deepening of our understanding of these important new trends in the social relations of science.
Themes covered by the workshop processes:,- communicating among plural perspectives,- managing uncertainty, complexity and value-commitments,- knowledge assessment
Context:,- transparency, openness and participation in science policy processes,- community based research,- emerging styles of governance and new ict
For full details of the conference and program please visit or contact:,http://alba.jrc.it/interfaces,E-mail: science.society@jrc.it,