British public want more information and consultation on scientific research.
The message from the latest Public Attitudes to Science Survey is that more work is needed to engage and involve the public with scientific developments in the UK.
Whilst the findings show that the public is very positive towards the sciences and their achievements, areas of the report that cause concern for the British Science Association include the 51% of respondents who say they hear too little information about science, the 66% who feel that scientists need to listen more to what ordinary people think and the nearly two thirds of respondents who want scientists to spend more time discussing the social and ethical implications of their work with the general public.
Roland Jackson, Chief Executive of the British Science Association commented;
"There is encouraging evidence that the public recognises the efforts made by scientists to engage in public discussions around the implications of their research, but the clear message remains that we need to see more of this.
The British Science Association continues to be committed to offering extensive opportunities for scientists and engineers to interact personally with the public and through the media during our keynote events, the British Science Festival and National Science & Engineering Week, and to celebrate young people’s achievements through the National Science & Engineering Competition.
It is imperative for the future of the UK as a world leader in the sciences that we continue to inform, involve and listen to the public, who ultimately pay for this work to be carried out and want to see their values and priorities reflected in the directions taken by research and its applications. I hope that this report will reinforce the importance of public engagement to scientific institutions and scientists themselves.”
Whilst the findings show that the public is very positive towards the sciences and their achievements, areas of the report that cause concern for the British Science Association include the 51% of respondents who say they hear too little information about science, the 66% who feel that scientists need to listen more to what ordinary people think and the nearly two thirds of respondents who want scientists to spend more time discussing the social and ethical implications of their work with the general public.
Roland Jackson, Chief Executive of the British Science Association commented;
"There is encouraging evidence that the public recognises the efforts made by scientists to engage in public discussions around the implications of their research, but the clear message remains that we need to see more of this.
The British Science Association continues to be committed to offering extensive opportunities for scientists and engineers to interact personally with the public and through the media during our keynote events, the British Science Festival and National Science & Engineering Week, and to celebrate young people’s achievements through the National Science & Engineering Competition.
It is imperative for the future of the UK as a world leader in the sciences that we continue to inform, involve and listen to the public, who ultimately pay for this work to be carried out and want to see their values and priorities reflected in the directions taken by research and its applications. I hope that this report will reinforce the importance of public engagement to scientific institutions and scientists themselves.”
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