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community x-change
Method(s) Used
Name of person who posted the project:Dominic Potter Unknown macro: {rate}
Location of project:United Kingdom
Date when the project started:2005
Date when the project ended/project ongoing:2006
Background to project:community x-change is the name given to a series of workshops where members of the public, scientists and policy makers met to discuss issues involving science and discuss their thoughts, feelings and ideas for possible actions. This case study covers the pilot phase which took place in Norwich.. community x-change explores a new methodology for dialogue. The approach takes elements from a number of different initiatives to provide time and space for citizens to discuss issues of local and national concern. In the pilot phase, the priority policy area was climate change. . Purpose of project:There were five main aims for this project:*To provide opportunities for people to discuss issues involving science about which they have strong views *To improve interaction between scientists and members of the public, acknowledging that each bring their own expertise *To develop effective processes to include marginalised and vulnerable groups in policy debates *To build capacity locally to enable interaction between participants beyond the lifespan of the project *To create an involvement process in which policy-makers play a meaningful role. Project activities:Participants met regularly to discuss climate change and other science and technology issues that interested or concerned them. The climate change topic was designed to stimulate a wide-ranging discussion, particularly on issues of more local concern.. Care was taken to ensure the group was diverse so that a range of views were heard. Marginalised groups were engaged through community groups and using data from the electoral roll. Eight participants were research scientists from local institutions. . Participants were guided through a structured process to discuss each other?s perspectives and consider evidence from a range of information providers. Scientists and non-scientists took part on an equal footing, each bringing different experiences and knowledge. . Policy makers involved in decision-making on climate change at a national and local level were involved at an initial ?shaping? event, at the final workshop and at the presentation of a video report. . Participants attended an interactive video report at the 2006 BA Festival of Science in Norwich. Additional project resources were developed for use by the BA?s regional offices, resulting in eight further public discussion events across the country attended by 800 people. . Project results:For the vast majority of participants (both non-scientists and scientists) there was a real expectation that something was going to come out of the process and that the information generated would be presented to decision-makers. Many of the participants thoroughly enjoyed the process and its diversity and appreciated having the chance to talk to decision makers, particularly their local MP.. There is increasing pressure on scientists to enter into dialogue with society and the group who took part in Norwich threw themselves wholeheartedly into the dialogue process. By creating a constructive and mutually respectful atmosphere the project seemed to create a safe environment in which scientists and citizens could discover a common language. . Policymakers were also invited to contribute to the x-change workshops and were invited to the BA Festival of Science session to view the video report. The final edit of the video is available online and has been widely distributed through communications channels. . Some other key impacts include: *Evaluation of pilot phase led to process improvements *Groups normally excluded from policy making processes interacted directly with decision-makers *Scientists overcame fears of two-way engagement with the public. . Contact details:Project Manager ? East Anglia:Alice Taylor-Gee Email: alice.taylor-gee@the-ba.net Tel: 020 7019 4940 . Project Manager ? Liverpool: Nigel Eady Email: nigel.eady@the-ba.net Tel: 020 7019 4938 . Associate Project Director: Tom Wakeford Email: tom.wakeford@ncl.ac.uk Tel: 0191 222 3508 . Web: www.the-ba.net/communityxchange . |
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