CORDIS

DECIDE will raise awareness and understanding of deliberative democracy methods, produce a tool to conduct and facilitate deliberative consultations and monitor the change of attitudes among the European public on contemporary Life Sciences.
It will produce a "kit" to facilitate structured debates on controversial issues (stem cells, cloning, GMO, genetic property rights etc.) in many science centres and museums across Europe. The topics will have a direct link to current policy discussions. The kit includes a series of "cards" representing facts,issues, policies and scenarios (participants will be able add their own arguments as required) that help participants to visualize the debate on a discussion board and reach consensus. All materials will be translated in the languages of the countries where the meetings will take place. DECIDE will directly engage a very diverse audience of more than 2000 adult and young citizens in several countries via the European network of science museums and other institutions. All the products developed by DECIDE will be evaluated and made available for free to everybody. The results of the meetings will be published on the Internet, making it possible to see how different groups react to discussions about particular life science issues. DECIDE will rely on an international scientific advisory board during the whole project.