Project seeks closer dialogue between science and society

The EU’s research and innovation framework programme is backing a project that aims to encourage a stronger discourse between society and science.

The Horizon 2020 project ‘New Understanding of Communication, Learning and Engagement in Universities and Scientific Institutions’, or NUCLEUS, will investigate governance and cultures in scientific institutions and brings together an international consortium of 24 partners from Europe, Asia and Africa. The venture aims to contribute to the debate on science policy at both national and European levels, including the future design of Horizon 2020 and the European Research Area.

Speaking about the venture, leader Professor Alexander Gerber said: “Our consortium is aware of how ambitious this project is. It aims at nothing less than rethinking the very foundations of communication governance in institutionalised science.”

According to Gerber, the main goal is on the one hand to find ways to align the communication structures and processes in science, with the expectations of policy makers and civil society in the context of ‘Responsible Research and Innovation’ (RRI) on the other. It is hoped that the rather complex paradigm of RRI will become more accessible to practicing scientists and to the general public.

The venture has a budget of nearly €4m and is being co-ordinated by Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences in Cleves, Germany. The project runs for four years from September 2015 until 2019 and is being funded as a Co-ordination & Support Action.