Revamped EU Science in Society Portal

The European Commission has just revamped its Science in Society portal, which focuses on "mobilising societal and research actors to tackle major societal challenges." If you're interested in science engagement, check it out!

According to an EC news release, "The new Science in Society website explains in a clear and succinct way the many policy and research activities that the programme supports."  The website "also contains such useful sections as "funding" – explaining how to get funded under the programme or "tools" – gathering a number of useful tools and instruments produced through projects funded under the programme, which can be used by Science in society practitioners. The "highlights" and "hot topics" sections provide the reader with news about the latest publications, projects or debates in the area of Science in Society. The vast "e-library" section contains a wealth of publications dating back to the beginning of the programme in 2001.  The new Science in Society portal will remain an excellent point of reference for anyone interested in the quickly consolidating area of science and society relations."

Who's Who in Science Public Engagement

The British Science Association has published a wonderful new resource listing the different organizations that are working on some aspect of science public engagement.  This fantastic new resource lists 29 organizations in all, with some pretty cool projects on the list.

Download a copy by clicking here.

Network for Citizen Science Projects & Resources

Many of you know that one of the topics I'm passionate about is engagement in support of science and technology.  My new favorite resource this week is The Network for Citizen Science Projects & Resources. 

According to the website, the network has four purposes:

• "Enable and encourage people to learn about, participate in, and contribute to science through both informal recreational activities and formal research efforts.
• Inspire greater appreciation and promote a better understanding of science and technology among the general public.
• Create a shared space where scientists can talk with citizens interested in working on or learning about their research projects.
• Satisfy the popular urge to tinker, build, and explore by making it simple and fun for people—singles, parents, grandparents, kids—to jump in and get their hands dirty with science" 

What's particularly impressive is how the group is using the web to promote easy ideas for people to get involved with science; for example, how you can use your phone to record and report on the GOM oil spill.  There's also a way you can add your own project or find a project to work on too, such as a Texas Bee Watchers initiative.  The site is a great model for how we can encourage those of us regular people (read: nonscientists) to get involved with enhancing and protecting our environment in easy ways, everyday.

Engmt in Support of Low Carbon Communities

This month's issue of the Sciencewise newsletter features a great article about how 22 communities are developing engagement plans that map out how they'll be engaging with their broader communities for this project.

This is part of the Low Carbon Communities Challenge, "a research and delivery programme which provides financial and advisory support to 20 ‘test-bed’ communities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland that are seeking to cut carbon emissions." Check it out!

US Lags Europe in Engaging People in Science/Technology Decisions

One of my favorite resources is the Sciencewise Expert Resource Centre for Public Dialogue In Science and Innovation (ERC) in the UK, which assists policy makers in using public dialogue in science and technology. They're doing some marvelous, leading edge work on how we engage people effectively around technical subjects.

An email report from ERC today noted how Europe is ahead of the US in science dialogue, with a link to these reports from Europe.

The email also notes a recent report from The Woodrow Wilson Center's Science and Technology Innovation Center that calls "for Citizen Participation to Inform Decision-Making on Science and Technology." See the report here.

Do you agree with ERC's assessment? How prevalent is scientific engagement in your country, community or organization?

News: NASA to Create Ofc of Participatory Exploration, Focus on 5 Kinds of Engmt

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) today posted a presentation that highlights plans for expanding public participation, part of a new Office of Participatory Exploration that will be created in FY 2011.

The plan--presented by the agency's Participatory Exploration (PE) study team yesterday at the NASA Exploration Enterprise Workshop in Galveston, TX--has three elements:
"1. Support research in new technologies to increase public participation.
2. Coordinate NASA-wide efforts to ensure that Participatory Exploration activities are included in future missions. The Office also will coordinate and promote the inclusion of participatory exploration activities in other Agency projects, outreach and education practices.
3. Act as a clearinghouse for identifying and communicating best practices in Participatory Exploration." (p. 3)

The goals of the program include creating opportunities for personal connections with NASA and its missions, stimulating public interest in STEM and furthering the agency's access to the interest, knowledge, skills, creativity and innovation that exists outside the NASA community. It will focus on five kinds of engagement: Information Dissemination, Content Interaction, Conversation, Contribution and Collaboration.

See the complete presentation here.