European Policy meeting: "Civil Society: Motor or Obstacle to Research?", 3-4 March 2009.

STACS CONFERENCE: Mainstreaming Societal Engagement in Research Issues

3 March 2009 14:00 -18:00 Salle Auclert, SC-15 00/Auclert Rue de la Science, 15 1040 Brussels

In 2001, the Commission launched the White Paper on Governance, “Democratising Expertise”, providing guidelines on the use of expertise that focus notably on greater opportunities for informed participation by society in policymaking, and on the promotion of participatory procedures. The European Research Advisory Board advised researchers to take “societal questions and concerns more into account.” The benefit would be a more reliable information on future needs and hence better adapted innovations.

The primary purpose of this meeting is to present the principal findings and recommendations of the European STACS project (Science, Technology and Civil Society).

Programme: 3 March 2009

14:00 Opening Viviane Willis-Mazzichi (RTD-L3 - Governance and Ethics)

14:10 Introduction: The STACS Project – Goals and Experiences Claudia Neubauer, Fondation Sciences Citoyennes, Paris, France

14:30 Section 1: Scientists and NGOs as Research Partners On the Way to Common Research Projects in the fields of Medicine, Public Health and Agriculture – Experiences from the STACS Nursery Workshops

Katrin Grüber, IMEW, Berlin, Germany Thomas Levillain, Réseau Semences Paysannes, France Caroline Bolllars, EPHA, Brussels, Belgium

15:00 Community based research in Canadian Universities Laura Milne, Knowledge Mobilization Coordinator, University of Victoria, British Colombia, Canada

15:20 Participatory Research in the EU – Analyses and Recommendations Eric Gall, Fondation Sciences Citoyennes, France

15:30 Discussion

16.00 Coffee break

Section 2: Citizen Scientists

16:20 Citizen Scientists – Research in the Interest of Society – Presentation of the “Citizen Scientists” booklet produced by STACS Jack Stilgoe, Demos, UK Stuart Blume, Innovia Foundation, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Section 3: Opening the EU Research System to Civil Society

16:50 Round Table Hartmut Graßl, Max-Planck-Institute, Hamburg, Germany Paraskevas Caracostas, Advisor, Science in Society Directorate Eric Gall, Fondation Sciences Citoyennes, Paris, France

17:20 Discussion

17:50 Concluding Remarks Claudia Neubauer Viviane Willis-Mazzichi

Facilitator: Katrin Grüber

Lunch seminar in the European Parliament:Civil Society: Motor or Obstacle to Research?

Hosted by Hiltrud Breyer, MEP 4 March 2009, 12:30 – 14:30 Members Salon, ASP Building, European Parliament, Brussels

How does the current EU research system address challenges to bridge the gap between civil society and scientists? What is the place of citizens and civil society? Is it merely to take part in public debates on scientific and technological issues or should civil society be involved in setting the research agenda?

The primary purpose of the lunch seminar is to present the principal findings and recommendations of the European project STACS (Science, Technology and Civil Society). It will explain how the relevance of research can be improved by involving civil society, outline obstacles that prevent the participation of CSOs and suggest how they can be overcome.

Programme: 4 March 2009

12:30 Welcome and Opening Hiltrud Breyer MEP

12:40 The ERA and Civil Society Janez Potočnik, Commissioner for Science and Research, European Commission (to be confirmed)

12:50 Why Civil Society is Important for Research Presentation of the results of the FP6 STACS (Science, Technology and Civil Society) research project Dr. Claudia Neubauer, Fondation Sciences Citoyennes, Paris

13:10 Involving Civil Society in Canada Laura Milne, Knowledge Mobilization Coordinator, University of Victoria, Canada

13:25 Ways to Open the EU Research System to Civil Society Eric Gall, Fondation Sciences Citoyennes, Paris, France

13:40 Enhancing Societal Engagement in Research Policy - Challenges for the Construction of the European Research Area Jean-Michel Baer, Director of the Directorate of Science, Economy and Society, Directorate- General for Research, European Commission, France

13.50 Debate with MEPs: The Role of Civil Society and the Knowledge Society Strategy in Research Introduction:Prof.Stuart Blume, Innovia Foundation, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Facilitator Dr. Katrin Grüber, director IMEW, Berlin, Germany