Science and Society 2013

"Science and technology shape our world.  They present great promise – keys to sustainable economic growth, solutions to energy and food scarcity, improvements to human health.  But they are also the source of much controversy and social anxiety.  The changes they bring are often met with distrust, may produce unwanted side effects, and are sometimes subject to misuse.  Like never before there is a need for broad and informed discussion of science and technology and their place in our society.  Yet the communities that engage in, benefit from, and seek to understand science and technology are often disconnected.  Their shared interests are often misunderstood, and their common goals overlooked.  This disconnect not only impoverishes our grasp of science and technology and their social implications but also has negative consequences for the public good. Science and Society 2013 aims to connect these communities and uncover common goals, competing concerns and the possibility of joint strategies.  It will involve and reach out to practitioners from various sectors, academics of diverse disciplines and an increasingly interested public.  At its broadest level it will explore the relationships between public policy, scientific research and the study of science itself – including how they inform one another and affect, whether positively or negatively, the wellbeing of Canadians.   The symposium will have two complementary components: (1) an academic component; and (2) a public component designed for a truly broad audience and potentially involving additional collaborators. Fostering dialogue between scholars, students, public servants and the general public will not only shed new light on the common challenges and opportunities facing these groups but also point the way towards novel solutions and courses of action. The uniqueness of the symposium consists in its aim to provide recommendations on how to envision and improve the science-society interface.  As part of their involvement in the event, all speakers and participants will be asked to address the following question: How can we understand and improve the interplay between science and society, and improve science policies for the future?  On the basis of the debate and answers, a results document will be created in which the potentially diverging views of different groups will be shown and analyzed.  This document will be distributed among media and key decision makers. The symposium will take place at the University of Ottawa from October 21 to 23, 2013, during National Science and Technology Week ..."