What is ‘Engaging the Public’ in Research?
reflections from some
policy and practical research at Sussex
presentation to ‘Research Hive’ seminar on
‘Engaging the Public with Your Research’
University of Sussex, Thursday 27th January 2011
Andy Stirling
SPRU – science and technology policy research
Research and the Public
From ‘Science and Society’ to ‘Science in Society’
implications of political, economic, institutional, discursive power in research
issues of ‘public understanding’ and ‘fostering trust’
– often about politics of ‘social choice’ in directions of research / innovation
eg: nanotechnology, neuroscience, robotics – 30% global effort is military?
advanced biotechnology: IP or open source? Intensive or participatory?
“GM”: trans / syn genics, marker assist, apomixis?
“sustainable energy” : nuclear, central / distrib renewables, C-capture?
not subject to agency of individual researchers
– be careful about ‘engagement as legitimation’
– trust and trustworthiness avoid pretence at ‘apolitical’ ‘value-free’ science
HoL S&T Committee:
EC Expert Group on S&G:
EC SiS Committee:
Co-operative Research:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200910/ldselect/ldsctech/104/10406.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/research/science-society/index.cfm?fuseaction=public.topic&id=119
http://ec.europa.eu/research/fp7/pdf/old-advisory-groups/sis-thirdreport_en.pdf#pagemode=none
http://ec.europa.eu/research/science-society/pdf/goverscience_final_report_en.pdf
‘Opening Up’ Research Directions
‘Engagement’ is not enough …
is it about: closing down?
eg:
single experts, prescriptive committees
aggregated results, Jury ‘verdicts’
‘consensus’ conferences
… or opening up?
eg:
sensitivity / scenario / interval analysis
dissensus groups,
‘mapping’ techniques, Q- method
New scope for partnerships between natural and social science
Sussex based ESRC STEPS Centre is pioneering a ‘pathways’ approach
BIS Sciencewise Steering Board on ‘the Road Ahead’:
Nature on ‘Keep it Complex’:
STEPS Centre ‘New Manifesto’ on ISD:
http://www.sciencewise-erc.org.uk/cms/the-road-ahead/
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v468/n7327/full/4681029a.html
http://anewmanifesto.org/
A “Pathways Approach”
food, water, public health, energy...
multiple distinct pathways
time
A “Pathways Approach”
food, water, public health, energy...
paths are ‘closed down’
time
A “Pathways Approach”
food, water, public health, energy...
paths are ‘closed down’
time
A “Pathways Approach”
food, water, public health, energy...
options are ‘locked in’
time
... new approaches
to innovation,
uncertainty,
resilience,
diversity
Practical Examples
Farming strategies in highlands of Kenya
maize innovation systems
Access to clean water in urban Delhi
and dryland India
Seeds and healthcare in rural China
and Argentina
Technological risk in India; global epidemics
pathways; beyond biosafety in China
New methods to enable marginal groups to
engage on more equal terms
&
Mapping Research “Pathways”
the case of maize in Kenya
low maize
low
external
input
alternative dryland staples
for subsistence
high maize
local improvement
of local maize
alternative dryland staples
for market
assisted seed multiplication
of alternative dryland staples
high
external
input
individual high-value crop
commercialization
group-based high-value crop
commercialization
assisted seed
multiplication of maize
commercial delivery of
new DT maize varieties
public delivery of new DT
maize varieties
Mapping Research “Pathways”
the case of maize in Kenya
Contrasting ‘framings’ of Sustainability
pathway
options
alternative staples for subsistence
alternative staples for market
assisted seed multiplication
local improvement of local maize
assisted multiplication of maize
high-value crop commercialization
group-based high-value commercialization
commercial delivery of new maize
public delivery of new maize
Multicriteria Mapping :
http:// www.multicriteriamapping.org