How a normative framework can help improve collaboration between researchers and citizens - Part 1: A brief history of the approach to public engagement in science and research
When it comes to citizen science, civic engagement and co-creation between scientists and citizens, practical experience raises questions about the ethics of participation: Why do participatory projects sometimes raise false expectations and lead to frustration? Which social groups have the opportunity to participate? Which are excluded and why? How do we integrate the practical knowledge of citizens as experts in their circumstances? How can we reduce epistemic inequity in collaborations between researchers and lay people?
ScienceUs Academy
In the ScienceUs Academy we will discuss these challenges and give advice on how to address them in your citizen science project. The Public Engagement Principles (Berlin School of Public Engagement and Open Science 2022) can provide guidance to facilitate better collaboration. This set of complementary principles aims to avoid pitfalls in transdisciplinary projects and to promote a cultural shift towards more open research. Let’s first take a look at how this cultural shift towards public engagement has developed.
– In the 2000s, public engagement became a focus of UK higher education policy for the first time. At the time, animal testing and research into genetically modified crops were under intense public scrutiny. In response, the House of Lords recommended a shift from science communication to public engagement with research. Direct dialogue should become an integral part of the process to generate mutual benefit.
– The establishment of the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement at the University of Bristol in 2008 was an important milestone. The focus shifted to the professional promotion and implementation of participatory and engaging practices.
– Over the last 15 years, the approach has become increasingly relevant in universities across Europe.
– In 2022, experiences from public engagement practice at the ScienceUs partner University of Tübingen led to the development and publication of a codex for public engagement practitioners together with the Berlin School of Public Engagement and Open Science. Public engagement in this codex refers to the dialogue-based practice of exchange between researchers and relevant knowledge stakeholders in society.
The aim is to explicitly include non-scientific perspectives and practical expertise in the research process. Stay tuned to learn more about the Codex in Part 2.
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