Achieving public dialogue

There are a wide range of interactions between 'science' and 'the public'. Examples range from visiting a museum, or indulging in a science-related hobby, to reading a newspaper article about a breakthrough in the techniques of therapeutic cloning. Many of these interactions could be said to be 'passive'. This free course, Achieving public dialogue, explores the practicalities of the public becoming more 'active' in the direction of science practice by 'two-way' interactions, with dialogue taking place between science and some part of 'the public'.

• Introduction
• Learning outcomes
• 1 How did the notion of public dialogue arise?
• 1 How did the notion of public dialogue arise?
• 2 What should dialogue with the public aim to achieve?
• 2 What should dialogue with the public aim to achieve?
• 3 Consensus conferences
• 3 Consensus conferences
• 3.1 Introduction
• 3.2 Public consultation vs public engagement
• 3.3 The consensus conference concept
• 3.4 Consensus conference on plant biotechnology
• 3.5 Consensus conference on radioactive waste
• 3.6 How valuable have consensus conferences proved to be?
• 4 The GM Nation? debate
• 4 The GM Nation? debate
• 5 How might dialogue move on from GM Nation?
• 5 How might dialogue move on from GM Nation?
• 6 DEMOCS: ‘The game to play to have your say’
• 6 DEMOCS: ‘The game to play to have your say’
• 6.1 Introduction
• 6.2 How DEMOCS works
• 6.3 Some issues for consideration
• 7 Final thoughts
• 7 Final thoughts
• Conclusion
• References
• Acknowledgements