# Presentation: 515085

## From Public Understanding to Public Engagement

- NIH Council of Public Representatives
- October 26, 2007

## The whole science-society relationship is evolving

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- A new paradigm is emerging for scientific communication with the rest of the public

## Some (obvious) contextual thoughts about the science-society relationship

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

## Baseline truism:

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

*Baseline truism:*

- Science and technology (S&T) are ever-more imbedded in every aspect of modern life!

## Corollaries:

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

*Corollaries*:

- For people to prosper in modern society, they need  fundamental understanding and comfort with S&T
- For science to prosper, the science-society relationship must be positive and strong

## Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it, nothing can succeed.                                                               		Abraham Lincoln

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it, nothing can succeed.                                                               		Abraham Lincoln

## We have a problem

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

*We have a problem*

- The science-society relationship is experiencing significant tension
- Has been eroding of late

## As Charles Dickens would say.....

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- We’re living in the best of times
- And the worst of times

**Notes:**
We are living in both the best of times and the worst of times for science and society

## On the one hand

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

*We’re living in the best of *_*scientific*_* times*

**Notes:**
We’re living in the best of scientific times. Advances in science – particularly neuroscience – are coming at a fantastic rate

## Advances in science are coming at a fantastic pace

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- The rate of incremental advance is accelerating
- New technologies are enabling quantum jumps in understanding
- With great practical significance

**Notes:**
You all know about those...

## On the other hand....

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

## Other issues within science are not going so well...and negatively affect the broader (societal) context for science

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- Other issues _*within*_ science are not going so well...and negatively affect the broader (societal) context for science

- Incidents of scientific misconduct
- Human subjects concerns
- Animal welfare issues
- Conflict of interest problems

## These problems are not unique to American society

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

## These factors are internal to science

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- These factors are _*internal*_ to science

- There are problematic _*external*_*** ***factors as well

## People generally still respect science and technology....

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

**Notes:**
Every survey shows that people generally still respect science and technology – depending on how you ask the question between 70 and 90% of Americans believe the benefits outweigh the risks of science and technology advances. 

## U.S. public’s view of scientific research 

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- U.S. public’s view of scientific research

- National Science Board, *Science and Engineering Indicators* - 2002

**Notes:**
By an overwhelming majority, Americans consistently believe that the benefits of scientific research outweigh any harmful benefits.

## They have little understanding of what is and is not science

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- 60% of Americans believe in extrasensory perception
- 41% think astrology is somewhat scientific
- 47% still do not answer “*true*” to the statement: “Human beings developed from earlier species of animals”

- Science and Engineering Indicators, 2004

## There’s a lesson here!

***There’s a lesson here!***

## People need to know more about science as an enterprise 

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- People need to know more about science as an _*enterprise*_

- What makes something scientific?
- What is “research” all about?
- What is and isn’t research?
- The limits of scientific investigation
- Natural explanations of the natural world

## Much science-society tension results from conflicts between scientific findings and

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- Political/economic expediency
- Core human values

## One political (economic) example...

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- Is there climate change/global warming?

## From Public Understanding to Public Engagement

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

## Science-society tension results from conflicts between scientific findings and

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- Political/economic expediency
- Core human values

## Scientific issues that abut against values 

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- Scientific issues that abut against values

- Cloning and stem cells
- Studying “personal” topics
- Sex
- Genetics of behavior
- Intelligence
- Aggression
- Individual personality traits
- “Intelligent Design” versus evolution in science classrooms and science museums

## Many neuroscience issues abut against human values

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- Many _neuroscience_ issues abut against human values

- The nature of the mind
- Mind-body-soul concepts
- Free will vs. determinism
- The ability for anyone to look into your brain and watch your mind in action
- Darkest secret thoughts
- Lie detecting

## Overlay of values is having serious consequences for the whole science-society relationship

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- Society wants to influence science
- Rather than just the reverse
- Creating a growing divide between science and the rest of society
- With negative consequences for both!

## What can we do about the science-society tension?

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

## The typical response is to advocate more public education about science

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

## But we can’t just “educate” our way out of it

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- Not all problems result from lack of understanding
- People do understand much of what we’re saying or want to do
- They don’t like it
- The conflict with their core values wins out over their view of societal benefits

## We must go beyond public education/understanding

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- Public Understanding +

## Public                                     PublicUnderstanding                       Engagement

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- Public                                     PublicUnderstanding                       Engagement

##     Communicating                     Communicating     to the public                          with the public

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

-     Communicating                     Communicating     _to_ the public                          _with_ the public

- This involves changing the _nature_ of the communication

## It’s not just about reducing tension!

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- There is mutual benefit from greater public engagement
- Genuine communication

## IOM Roundtable on Evidence-Based Medicine

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- Emphasized the need for active roles of both patients and health care professional in evidence development and dissemination

## Autism and the Environment

- Background:
- Secretary of HHS requested the Forum provide a neutral venue to bring together scientists, autism community, and sponsors to identify and discuss the most promising scientific opportunities relating to the environment’s potential impact on the development and progression of ASD.
- 13 member Planning Committee included 3 IC directors and representatives from 4 different advocacy organizations
- Workshop:
- About 50 people from all sectors
- Model of “public engagement” with science
- Dissemination:
- Workshop proceedings with index of scientific opportunities in press
- Summary article submitted to *Pediatrics*
- Hope to feed national research agenda

## EURAB Report and Recommendations on Research and Societal Engagement

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

*EURAB Report and Recommendations on Research and Societal Engagement*

- Medical relief workers learning from local customary homeopathic practice
- Surgeon’s recognizing how faith can help in recovery

- Source: European Research Advisory Board, European Commission, June 2007

## Public engagement means listening (and responding) to the public about:

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- Public engagement means _listening_ (and responding) to the public about:

- _Their_ concerns about science and technology and their concomitants
- Risks and benefits
- Encroachment on human values
- _Their_ priorities among research areas
- Questions _they_ would like or need us to answer
- Help frame the research agenda

## Government agencies need to be recipients of and respond to engagement insights!

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- They are accountable to the public
- They help set research agendas
- Public information
- Bully pulpits

## Government R&D agencies should all initiate public engagement programs!

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- Both NSF and NIH are exhorting or requiring outreach efforts

## What are we talking about doing?

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

## Public engagement can be done in a variety of ways

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- Public forums/town meetings
- Usually don’t work well
- Visits with community groups
- Small group, problem-solving sessions
- Exploiting natural opportunities
- Science museums and centers
- Physicians offices
- Over the neighbor’s fence

## AAAS Program Activities – Public Understanding and Engagement with Science and Technology

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- AAAS Program Activities – Public Understanding and Engagement with Science and Technology

- Center for Public Engagement with Science and Technology
- Science Update – radio show
- EurekAlert! – web site for science journalists
- Family Science Days – annual meeting event
- Public Science Day
- Dialogue on Science, Ethics and Religion
- Science literacy projects
- Work with science museums and centers
- Town meetings
*Meet the Scientists*
- Outreach to community organizations

## AAAS “Glocal” strategy

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

## Working with local opinion leaders and resources(AAAS “Glocal” Strategy)

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- Working with local opinion leaders and resources(AAAS “Glocal” Strategy)

- Local media and op-eds
- Clergy
- School officials
- Local government leaders/politicians
- Science museums and centers
- Community groups
- Town meetings

## = “Intelligent design” initiative eruption

- = AAAS intervention

## What am I asking of the scientific community?

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

## I’ve been railing about this for quite a while!

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

## We need scientists to:

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- Build relationships with stakeholders, striving to foster mutual confidence and respect.
- Be inclusive of diverse perspectives, sectors and cultures.
- Practice “active listening”
- Build communication around issues informed by S&T, rather than specifics of the S&T itself.
- Practice openness
- Put information, ideas and debate in the public realm

*Science Communications and Opportunities for Public Engagement,* Canadian Council of Science and Technology Advisors, 2003

## Barriers to science communication in the UK

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- 64% claim the need to spend more time on research
- 20% agreed that scientists who engage are less well regarded by other scientists
- 3% cited peer pressure as a barrier

- Source: Royal Society Consultative Group, 2006

## Public engagement involves learned skills

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- We need to build them into our training programs!

## We need to train researchers to engage with the public!

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- We need to _train_ researchers to engage with the public!

- Talk to the press about their research results
- Reach out to their neighbors and community groups
- We need to tell our students it’s good to do!!

## AAAS is starting training activities

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- Online communication training
- Regional training workshops for scientists and engineers
- Partnership with NSF

## This includes how to behave in this dialogue

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

- Scientists must stick to the facts
- Do not express your personal values
- Do not go outside your specific area of expertise
- Find easily understood ways to connote your meaning
- No jargon, no nuances
- Never violate the data
- Listen!

## A healthy science-society relationship is critical both for science and for society!

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

## We Must Restore Equilibrium to the Science-Society Relationship

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007

## From Public Understanding to Public Engagement

- NIH Council of Public Representatives, October 26, 2007