The Handout used at the Sciencewise Community of Practice webinar on the 6th of June 2013

1. Managed by Ricardo-AEA on behalf of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS)www.sciencewise-erc.org.uk 1

2. Sciencewise webinar – Co-funded
public dialogue projects
James Tweed, Sciencewise Projects Manager
6 June 2013
2

3. Managed by Ricardo-AEA on behalf of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS)www.sciencewise-erc.org.uk
INTRODUCTION TO
SCIENCEWISE
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4. Managed by Ricardo-AEA on behalf of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS)www.sciencewise-erc.org.uk
What is public dialogue?
Public dialogue is defined by the Sciencewise-ERC as a
‘two-way’ conversation between policy makers and
scientists on the one hand, and the public on the
other. It aims to find out the public views, which may
require legislation.
It does not seek to find out people’s views on a range of
policy options that have already been developed.
Rather, it aims to find out people’s hopes, fears
and aspirations about potential new areas of
science and technology.
It does this by taking place ‘upstream’, in other words
before key policy decisions are made, to ensure that
the outcomes are able to have some influence and
make a difference.
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5. Managed by Ricardo-AEA on behalf of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS)www.sciencewise-erc.org.uk 5
Crucially, public dialogue needs a number of other key
ingredients – the involvement of experts and the
space to allow people to discuss and debate the
issues, deliberate over time, and come back
together again for further discussion.
Most importantly, public dialogue needs to have a policy
‘home’ and be linked to a clear policy issue so that
it can make a difference to real decisions.
Pubic Dialogue is highly valuable when:
• Policy is still at an early stage of development
• Issues are highly contentious
• There is potentially strong public interest
• Transparency is essential
• Public questions, concerns and aspirations need to be
understood and built in alongside technical expertise and
stakeholder views .

6. Managed by Ricardo-AEA on behalf of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS)www.sciencewise-erc.org.uk
Public dialogue…
Public dialogue is… Public dialogue is not…
Independent and unbiased A replacement for
Government decision
making
Structured and deliberative Market research
Inclusive of key
perspectives
A means to persuade
Broadly representative of
public through recruitment
A talking shop
Designed and customised A replacement for other
evidence-based processes
"You can’t expect any drugs
policy to have long-term
success unless you take
people with you. If you cut
across the grain of the public
instinct, it’s disastrous.
Engaging with people should
help us devise policies which
are acceptable and
sustainable."
Academy of Medical Sciences

7. Managed by Ricardo-AEA on behalf of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS)www.sciencewise-erc.org.uk
WHAT MIGHT A PUBLIC
DIALOGUE PROJECT LOOK
LIKE
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8. Time (ideally from 12 to 24 months, depending on the novel/challenging nature of the
issue)
Agree broad
parameters
for dialogue
Cross Government Group
Key
Cross Government
Group

9. Time (ideally from 12 to 24 months, depending on the novel/challenging nature of the
issue)
Agree broad
parameters
for dialogue
Agree specific
objectives with key
stakeholders and
create steering group
Cross Government Group
Steering/Oversight Group
Key
Cross Government
Group
Steering/Oversight
Group

10. Time (ideally from 12 to 24 months, depending on the novel/challenging nature of the
issue)
Agree broad
parameters
for dialogue
Agree specific
objectives with key
stakeholders and
create steering group
Dialogue and
evaluation
commissioned
Cross Government Group
Steering/Oversight Group
Commissioning Team
Key
Cross Government
Group
Steering/Oversight
Group
Commissioning
Team

11. Time (ideally from 12 to 24 months, depending on the novel/challenging nature of the
issue)
Agree broad
parameters
for dialogue
Agree specific
objectives with key
stakeholders and
create steering group
Dialogue and
evaluation
commissioned
Kickoff,
media
meeting
Meetings and activities
with the dialogue
delivery organization
Cross Government Group
Steering/Oversight Group
Commissioning Team
Evaluation
Communications and Learning Meetings
Key
Cross Government
Group
Steering/Oversight
Group
Commissioning
Team
Evaluation
Communications
and Learning Meetings

12. Time (ideally from 12 to 24 months, depending on the novel/challenging nature of the
issue)
Agree broad
parameters
for dialogue
Agree specific
objectives with key
stakeholders and
create steering group
Dialogue and
evaluation
commissioned
Kickoff,
media
meeting
Stakeholder workshop
to advise on questions
materials for dialogue
and get buy-in
Meetings and activities
with the dialogue
delivery organization
Cross Government Group
Steering/Oversight Group
Commissioning Team Stakeholder workshop
Evaluation
Communications and Learning Meetings
Key
Meetings and activities
with the dialogue
delivery organisation
Cross Government
Group
Steering/Oversight
Group
Commissioning
Team
Stakeholder
workshop
Evaluation
Communications
and Learning Meetings

13. Time (ideally from 12 to 24 months, depending on the novel/challenging nature of the
issue)
Agree broad
parameters
for dialogue
Agree specific
objectives with key
stakeholders and
create steering group
Dialogue and
evaluation
commissioned
Kickoff,
media
meeting
Stakeholder workshop
to advise on questions
materials for dialogue
and get buy-in
Policy team and delivery
agents produce
materials, process and
recruit participants
Meetings and activities
with the dialogue
delivery organization
Cross Government Group
Steering/Oversight Group
Commissioning Team Stakeholder workshop
Evaluation
Communications and Learning Meetings
Key
Meetings and activities
with the dialogue
delivery organisation
Cross Government
Group
Steering/Oversight
Group
Commissioning
Team
Stakeholder
workshop
Evaluation
Communications
and Learning Meetings

14. 14
Time (ideally from 12 to 24 months, depending on the novel/challenging nature of the
issue)
Agree broad
parameters
for dialogue
Agree specific
objectives with key
stakeholders and
create steering group
Dialogue and
evaluation
commissioned
Kickoff,
media
meeting
Stakeholder workshop
to advise on questions
materials for dialogue
and get buy-in
Policy team and delivery
agents produce
materials, process and
recruit participants
Dialogue workshops - using
steering group and stakeholder
experts, with government board
attending where appropriate
Meetings and activities
with the dialogue
delivery organization
Cross Government Group
Steering/Oversight Group
Commissioning Team Stakeholder workshop
Evaluation
Communications and Learning Meetings
Public Dialogue workshops with potential to involve
Steering group, cross government group, and stakeholders
Key
Dialogue workshops –
using steering group and
stakeholder experts,
with government board
attending where
appropriate
Meetings and activities
with the dialogue
delivery organisation
Cross Government
Group
Steering/Oversight
Group
Commissioning
Team
Stakeholder
workshop
Evaluation
Communications
and Learning Meetings

15. 15
Time (ideally from 12 to 24 months, depending on the novel/challenging nature of the
issue)
Agree broad
parameters
for dialogue
Agree specific
objectives with key
stakeholders and
create steering group
Dialogue and
evaluation
commissioned
Media
meeting
Stakeholder workshop
to advise on questions
materials for dialogue
and get buy-in
Policy team and delivery
agents produce
materials, process and
recruit participants
Dialogue workshops - using
steering group and stakeholder
experts, with government board
attending where appropriate Report launch
Meetings and activities
with the dialogue
delivery organization
Cross Government Group
Steering/Oversight Group
Commissioning Team Stakeholder workshop
Evaluation
Communications and Learning Meetings
Public Dialogue workshops with potential to involve
Steering group, cross government group, and stakeholders
Key
Dialogue workshops –
using steering group and
stakeholder experts,
with government board
attending where
appropriate
Meetings and activities
with the dialogue
delivery organisation
Cross Government
Group
Steering/Oversight
Group
Commissioning
Team
Stakeholder
workshop
Evaluation
Communications
and Learning Meetings

16. 16
Time (ideally from 12 to 24 months, depending on the novel/challenging nature of the
issue)
Agree broad
parameters
for dialogue
Agree specific
objectives with key
stakeholders and
create steering group
Dialogue and
evaluation
commissioned
Media
meeting
Stakeholder workshop
to advise on questions
materials for dialogue
and get buy-in
Policy team and delivery
agents produce
materials, process and
recruit participants
Dialogue workshops - using
steering group and stakeholder
experts, with government board
attending where appropriate Report launch
Wash up
meeting and
case studies
Meetings and activities
with the dialogue
delivery organization
Cross Government Group
Steering/Oversight Group
Commissioning Team Stakeholder workshop
Evaluation
Communications and Learning Meetings
Public Dialogue workshops with potential to involve
Steering group, cross government group, and stakeholders
Key
Dialogue workshops –
using steering group and
stakeholder experts,
with government board
attending where
appropriate
Meetings and activities
with the dialogue
delivery organisation
Cross Government
Group
Steering/Oversight
Group
Commissioning
Team
Stakeholder
workshop
Evaluation
Communications
and Learning Meetings

17. Managed by Ricardo-AEA on behalf of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS)www.sciencewise-erc.org.uk
SCIENCEWISE CO-FUNDED
PUBLIC DIALOGUE PROJECTS
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18. Managed by Ricardo-AEA on behalf of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS)www.sciencewise-erc.org.uk
Projects that are completing
• Water quality and sustainability
• Support to pilot catchment area plans – Environment Agency
• Tools collection – NERC
• Evaluation - Defra
• Mitochondrial replacement – Human Fertilisation and
Embryology Authority
• Wales land use – Countryside Council for Wales
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19. Managed by Ricardo-AEA on behalf of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS)www.sciencewise-erc.org.uk
Projects that are starting, in
progress
• Bioenergy – BBSRC
• Nature Improvement Areas – Natural England
• Stratified medicine – Technology Strategy Board
• Patients/ public view of health regulations – Health
Research Authority
• Communicating risk: For understanding, belief,
ownership and action – Environment Agency
• Public views on outputs from CSaP Horizon Scanning
Workshop – BIS
• Significant water management issues – Environment
Agency
• Citizen dialogue on bovine TB – Defra
• Openeness and transparency in animal research -
MRC
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20. Managed by Ricardo-AEA on behalf of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS)www.sciencewise-erc.org.uk
Mitochondrial replacement
Commissioning
agent
Human Fertilisation and
Embryology Authority
Total/ Sciencewise
funding, £k
220/ 72
Governance Independent Oversight Group
Dialogue 3 groups of 30 each meeting for 2
days separated by 2 weeks
Other activities Omnibus survey
Open consultation
Public meetings
Patient focus group
Further
information
HFEA webpage
Summary of evidence
HFEA press release
Sciencewise webpage
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21. Managed by Ricardo-AEA on behalf of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS)www.sciencewise-erc.org.uk
Water quality and sustainability
Commissioning
agent
Environment Agency/ NERC/ Defra
Total/ Sciencewise
funding, £k
2098/282
Governance Management team
Dialogue Facilitator support to:
15 catchments – stakeholders
7 of these - public
Other activities Development of draft catchment
area plans
Further
information
EA webpage
Catchment hub
Sciencewise webpage
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22. Managed by Ricardo-AEA on behalf of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS)www.sciencewise-erc.org.uk
Bioenergy distributed dialogue
Commissioning
agent
BBSRC
Total/ Sciencewise
funding, £k
137/78
Governance Management team
Dialogue Distributed dialogue based on a
toolkit developed centrally
Other activities Training to BSRC researchers
Open events
Further
information
BBSRC webpage
Take part
Sciencewise webpage
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23. Managed by Ricardo-AEA on behalf of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS)www.sciencewise-erc.org.uk
Patient and public views
Commissioning
agent
Health Research Authority
Total/ Sciencewise
funding, £k
152/84
Governance Management team
Dialogue 4 groups of 15, each meeting for 2
evenings
Other activities Patient meetings
Omnibus survey
Further
information
HRA release 1
HRA release 2
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24. Managed by Ricardo-AEA on behalf of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS)www.sciencewise-erc.org.uk
Mitochondrial replacement
Commissioning
agent
Human Fertilisation and
Embryology Authority
Total/ Sciencewise
funding, £k
220/ 72
Governance Independent Oversight Group
Dialogue 3 groups of 30 each meeting for 2
days separated by 2 weeks
Other activities Omnibus survey
Open consultation
Public meetings
Patient focus group
Further
information
HFEA webpage
Summary of evidence
HFEA press release
Sciencewise webpage
24

25. Managed by Ricardo-AEA on behalf of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS)www.sciencewise-erc.org.uk
Contact us
Sciencewise website
www.sciencewise-erc.org.uk
Sciencewise Helpline
01235 753 645
James Tweed:
Sciencewise Projects Manager
James.tweed@sciencewise-erc.org.uk
Tel: 01235 753007
Mob: 07068 707 623
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