A very interesting EU funded project. The site www.sciencexpress.net is still under construction but this is a good avenue to request expert opinion/investigation into revolutionary "new energy" technologies (some of which already claiming to have working prototypes). Maybe Europeans have more “guts” to seriously look into energy research that may change our world and societal structure dramatically and forever (and hopefully soon). Here are some extracts from their Mission Statement, etc.
Mission
Statement
OUR
VISION
Modern societies
depend on scientific knowledge and its application through technology and
innovation. Too often the public plays the role of passive recipient, without
any control of, or influence over technology trends and research priorities. And
while science and technology faces increasing scrutiny, opinions and choices are
often shaped more by misunderstanding, or even misinformation, than reasoned and
informed decision-making.
To bridge the gap in Europe between science/innovative technologies and the
public, the European Commission is funding the development of PUSH, a
communications tool for entering into an open dialogue in non-scientific
language with the public.
OUR
GOAL
The PUSH goal is
to provide an innovative Communication approach to promote a new dialogue
between Science and Society involving the citizens in the discussions on modern
Science and Technology choices.
OUR MISSION
Science and society
PUSH project is
aimed to help citizens to better understand both the beneficial impact of
science and technology on their day-to-day lives as well as the potential
limitations and implications of technological developments.
Using the Internet
The PUSH project
will result in a social Communication Methodology utilising an Internet-Based
Platform. PUSH will allow the co-ordinated preparation, promotion and
facilitation of a near real-time public dialogue to provide indications of
prevailing social attitudes and perceptions regarding specific new technologies.
Through a
user-friendly Internet portal citizens will be involved in the discussions on
S&T choices, will be supported in developing their own informed opinions
about the ethical and social impact of new technologies and will be asked to
speak out their ideas.
Creating understanding
The PUSH
objective - a reliable method for assessing the social impact of new
technologies - also has great value for industry. The methodology empowers the
public, giving people the chance to influence the research process by
encouraging industry to introduce sustainable and socially acceptable
technologies.
The methodology
helps also to identify acceptable uses for a given technology, as well as
product lines with strong marketing implications, widespread and early adoption
by the public, and hence the commercial success, of innovative products and
services is directly linked to consumers’ knowledge and acceptance.
A self-sustainable solution
PUSH is designed
to be self-sustainable from a commercial standpoint. With the pilot project's
successful implementation, the resulting methodology will be made available on a
commercial basis to the R&D departments of major European companies.
The
Methodology
ScienceXpress is
about communicating - innovative ideas, thoughts and feelings - and empowering
people to make decisions about the developments that can impact on their lives.
Many of the devices for such communications are well recognised and commonly
employed media tools. But the real knack comes in bringing them all together and
getting people to participate. To make this possible, a novel and groundbreaking
methodology has been developed so that ALL stakeholders in society and the
Scientific Community can be involved at the same time. It is the ScienceXpress
approach, its formula for first learning, and then informing and finally
listening to those involved that marks it out as a pioneering initiative.
So how does the
methodology work?
Once a scientific
idea or technological innovation comes into view and someone involved in the
process believes it may cause society concern if not properly understood, the
ScienceXpress process kicks into gear.
First,
information about the development is collected and analysed in detail. Then, its impact on society and the identity of the stakeholders in society - where they live, what they do, how they will be affected - are laid out systematically to focus on the main issues and protagonists. This is followed up by activity in relevant media and a comprehensive information campaign, tailor-made to help the uninformed understand the important issues and what kinds of decisions they need to make.
At the centre of this process is an interactive web portal from which the various activities feed and through which the various stakeholders can get involved and interact. A dedicated team of experts familiar with the methodology, its goals and the subjects under discussion, are at hand to keep the information tight and to-the-point.
The Methodology Steps
Technology Screening | Scenario & Stakeholders | Information & Communication | Dialogue | Results
Technology screening
This first stage is of great importance: It is the link between the Promoter - the source of the innovation that may impact on society - and the expertise programmed into the methodology. Since they are likely to be the only ones who can describe the innovation in detail, the Promoter's knowledge helps ScienceXpress locate and inform the relevant expertise. Carefully selected information about their technology is collected and analysed in detail through a specially prepared questionnaire and face-to-face interviews...
PUSH
(Public Awareness on Sustainable High-Technologies) is an EU-funded project
The
Vision
It is a
general assumption that the public plays the role of a passive recipient in the
realm of scientific and technological development: lacking the power to
influence technology trends and research priorities.
The innovation is offered suddenly, with no prior consideration of the public
opinion about its potential benefits or social consequences.
The
Objective
The
overall aim of the project is to provide an innovative Communication approach to
promote a new dialogue between Science and Society involving the citizen in the
discussions on S&T choices. The European research programme on Competitive
and Sustainable Growth will be taken as the reference to test this approach.
The
Strategy
This
project aims to develop a social Communication Methodology utilizing an
Internet-Based Platform, which enables a direct consultation with the public on
specific issues, such as Innovative materials, products and processes.
The Platform will
simultaneously provide all the relevant information available on the topic in an
easily accessible format.
The information aims to be exhaustive and complete, thus providing the various
opinions, debates and ambiguities in order to stimulate a conscious debate.
The
Target and Advantages
Two
categories will benefit from this initiative: the citizens and the
institutional/business players:
Relating to
Citizens (consumers, workers, educators, parents, etc.),
Push will offer them the opportunity:
-
to easily access a previously hidden knowledge, which will be now provided in a
complete and impartial way, through non-scientific language
- to understand better both the benefits and the limitations
of scientific and technological developments on their day-to-day lives
- to improve the quality of their life as well as their
professional, investment, consumer and educational choices.
- to profit from the stimulating exchange of opinion with the
researchers, experts, business men and the opinion leaders
Relating to
institutional/business players (research centres, policy-makers, experts,
business men)
Push will:
-
increase scientists, policy makers and investors awareness of issues and
subjects that are of concern to the public.
- communicate them an indication of the Citizen's perception
and consensus on the on-going research activities and scientific results, thus
supporting them to orientate future research policy and priorities
- contribute to the further methodological product development
as it is pursued by industrial or service firms
- improve the acceptance and consequently speed up the
adoption of new technologies/products by the public.
In a wider and
long term perspective, Push will offer a general benefit, through
-
increase scientists, policy makers and investors awareness of issues and
subjects that are of concern to the public.
- communicate them an indication of the Citizen's perception
and consensus on the on-going research activities and scientific results, thus
supporting them to orientate future research policy and priorities
- contribute to the further methodological product development
as it is pursued by industrial or service firms
- improve the acceptance and consequently speed up the
adoption of new technologies/products by the public.
The
PUSH consortium evolved into the Sciencexpress Team.
Due to the aims
and nature of the project, the Team is well balanced between
scientific/technological and social players.
In fact, it includes specific competencies in technical and non-technical
communication management (H&K -Waluerope), technology foresight and watch (RTC
North), Internet-based communication tools (Cybion), and research methodologies
(FUAC), and a strong capability to reach and involve both End Users, the
Industry and Institutions (Movimento dei Cittadini and ASPEN).
Here you can read a brief presentation of each company and the names of the
people involved.
If you are interested in a specific profile, click the logos and you'll be
directed to the partners.
(see site - link
at the beginning of this article)
