2016 AAAS Annual Meeting (February 11-15, 2016)

February 10 - 15, 2016

A Global Village of Public Engagement in Science

Just as a pile of bricks is not a house, and a bunch of cells is not an organism, science without genuine public engagement about its societal impacts remains incomplete. This session describes the phenomenal growth of public engagement with science activities in recent years at national, regional, and global levels. No one model for these activities exists, and the specific characteristics of ‘local’ science-for-policy systems, academic traditions, and societal perceptions of science  heavily influence the model of public engagement chosen – with mixed results. Public engagement also relates to ways that scientific advice can influence policy, a topic the European Union and others are exploring. Many different objectives, e.g. broader impact, responsible research and innovation, open innovation, science education, or discovery of social values, potentially can be addressed through public engagement. Organizers of public engagement must consider goals and best strategies. Bringing together key public engagement with science organizers from Japan, Korea, Europe, and the U.S., this symposium offers a mutual learning session with participants to address common issues, integrating key concepts of public engagement with science throughout the discussion.