Nearest tubes are Piccadilly Circus or Charing Cross.

This is the final meeting of the Science in Society Programme community. We will be considering the work of projects in the Programme and how these have consolidated the criteria set for the Programme as a whole.

Coffee and pastries from 10am

Start 10.30am Introduction from the Director

Session 1

The Programme intended to challenge traditional assumptions about the science-society relationship.

Ø What are these and how have individual projects responded to them? (moving the science-society relationship forward?)

A further challenge was to engage social science with decision makers in scientific, governmental, industrial, consumer, environmental, and public-interest organisations.

Ø How have projects engaged at this level? What have they learned about the process of engagement?

Speaker Panel – Nick Pidgeon, Claire Waterton, Sally Eden

Followed by discussion.

Lunch 12.00 noon

1.00pm Session 2

Specific objectives set for the Programme included encouraging and supporting high quality research activities designed to:

1. Develop UK research capacity relevant to understanding science, technology and social change
2. Enhance public and policy debate about new scientific and technological developments and their relationship to social needs

3. Examine the implications for the governance of science that are raised by increasing recognition of the plurality of expertise and knowledge

4. Evaluate the social and economic pressures on technical decision-making processes especially those of public accountability and international competitiveness

Ø How have the Programme and projects developed in relation to these objectives?

Speaker Panel – Lorraine Culley, Dan Neyland, Mary Dixon-Woods
Followed by discussion.

Break 2.30pm

3.00pm Session 3

Specific objectives ctd.

1. Understand the experiences of other countries and of the role of British and international science and technology in their social, economic, and political development

2. Evaluate the role of R&D institutions and explore alternative models for their design in the light of public goals and social aspirations.

3. Investigate what it means to 'solve' human problems through the application of science and technology

Speakers – Matias Ramirez, Dinar Kale
Followed by discussion.

Closing remarks 4.30pm

Close 4.45pm