Public Engagement & Knowledge Institutions

Therefore, it was a real discovery that European Commission has been pursuing a programme for public engagement of science for more than a decade. During the recently held 5th Living Knowledge Conference in Bonn, the network of science shops in Europe shared the emerging lessons from a fascinating programme funded by EU called PRERAS---Public Engagement with Research and Research Engagement with Society. Under this initiative, 25 projects in 17 European countries are facilitating public engagement on such issues as nanotechnology, domestic violence, etc. The EU programme focuses on science and society, as well as science in society. Issues of open access to research findings, ethics of research and governance of research are being taken up for public debate with support from EU. More than 250 civil society activists and researchers discussed their experiences in these European countries during the three days of the conference. The most important lesson from these deliberations was that civil society engagement is critical in setting up the research agenda itself.

How many countries have such policies and programmes of public engagement with knowledge institutions outside the EU? Should public funding of science not also imply public oversight of scientific choices and results? Should not the expertise of science be discussed in public domain? Should not public policy support citizensâ right to understanding science, scientific decisions and research outcomes? Should teaching of scientists and their professional preparation not emphasise issues of ethics, open access and public accountability? Should citizens not demand that institutions of research and higher education be more explicitly socially responsible?

In many newly emerging economies, substantial emphasis is being given to knowledge economy; governments are investing public resources in incubating innovations, nurturing enterprise and promoting closer linkages between institutions of higher education (like universities) and industry/corporations. If simultaneous engagement of such knowledge institutions (which undertake both research and education) with civil society and larger public is not facilitated and invested in by governments, there will be no possibility of enabling public discourse on science and public accountability of knowledge institutions. As policy-makers in countries like India continue to invest billions of dollars annually in such knowledge institutions, the requirements of democratic governance demand that appropriate public policies and funding be put in place to facilitate such public engagements.

As European experience suggests, national and regional policies and programmes are required to be put in place soon enough in many countries around the world so that public discourse on research agendas and post_contents of teaching in higher education can become a part of civic life, and not be labeled by scientific community (or their benefactors) as ‘mindless public protest by ignorant foolsâ on such complex science issues as genetic modification, nuclear energy and digital surveillance.

Rajesh Tandon                                                                                                                           June 20, 2012