‘Science & Society’ & Libraries

Frank Norman

National Institute for Medical Research

5 Nov 2003 USTLG 2

Overview

• Science

• ‘Science & Society’

• ‘Science & Society’ & Libraries

5 Nov 2003 USTLG 3

Science

• Complex

• Specialised

• A process

• Misunderstood

• Documented

• All pervasive in effects on 21st century life

5 Nov 2003 USTLG 4

‘Science & Society’

• 1985 - COPUS – BA, Roy Soc, Roy Inst

• 2001 - H of L SC on Sci Technol Report– radioactive waste, BSE, GM foods, cloning

– more openness/dialogue from scientific institutions should play an integral role in scientific decision-making

• 2002 - BA report

5 Nov 2003 USTLG 5

S&S. Messages

• A crisis of trust. • Listen to the public's values and attitudes• ‘PUS’ is demeaning and condescending and

is no longer enough• Secrecy must give way to a presumption of

openness and transparency• Scientists must learn to live with a free press

5 Nov 2003 USTLG 6

OST

• http://www.ost.gov.uk/

• Science & Society Directorate– overview and coordination of S&S work across

DTI and government

– funds public engagement with science and confidence in science

– scientific workforce and careers

– diversity in science funding and workforce

5 Nov 2003 USTLG 7

POST

• http://www.parliament.uk/post/– publications on S&S

– other good summaries of key topics

5 Nov 2003 USTLG 8

No more ivory towers

• Public Understanding of Science

• Public Unease about Science

• Science and Society

• Blakemore - (new MRC chief)– The big issue to be addressed is public trust in

science

– Scientists should be rewarded for public communication

5 Nov 2003 USTLG 9

Dialogue

• No longer an optional extra

• Bread and butter for scientists

• Cultural change

5 Nov 2003 USTLG 10

‘Science & Society’ & Libraries

• Guardians of the scientific record

• Anything else?

5 Nov 2003 USTLG 11

Science libraries’ role

• Supporting undergraduate learning

• Supporting scientific research

5 Nov 2003 USTLG 12

A new frontier

• Another adventure

• PEST is about information– Open Access may break some barriers

5 Nov 2003 USTLG 13

Stretching

• THES, 11 July 2003

• Steve Morgan (Univ Glam)

• “Why don’t library staff go into local communities and preach the HE gospel?”

• Collaboration between different library services

5 Nov 2003 USTLG 14

Libraries and S&S

• Supporting researchers

• Outreach

• Fringes

• Stimulating/coordinating institutional response

5 Nov 2003 USTLG 15

Feed information to researchers

• Collection development– Popular science, policy, “how-to” guides

• Information / news service– Legal, news, reports, meetings

5 Nov 2003 USTLG 16

Engage in outreach?

• School visits

• Information on external website– FOI; may need context

• Services to public– Allow them in?

– Develop materials?

• Outreach to non-science students– Science and citizenship now taught in schools

5 Nov 2003 USTLG 17

Fringes

• Art-science projects– Library may have materials to feed artists’

imaginations

• History of science– Can be a way in to science

5 Nov 2003 USTLG 18

Institutional response

• It is wider than the Library

• Library may stimulate / coordinate– Publishing, events

• Partnership with PR department?– They may have science writers in post

– Can the Library assist?

5 Nov 2003 USTLG 19

Is this all nonsense?

• Is this stretching our skills too far?

• Do we have time for all this?

• Are others doing the job fine anyway?

• Do I want the public in my library?