Involving the Public in Prioritising Research

This research project examines how the type of events run through ANU's Centre for the Public Awareness of Science fit within deliberative democracy theory, and tests a practical model of public participation and deliberation.

In 2008, three deliberative events were held during National Science Week in Adelaide and Canberra. The events’ format was adapted from a model developed at the Institute for Food Research in the UK. Around 80 people without backgrounds in science were asked which of three agricultural science projects they would prefer to fund. The projects were presented by scientists involved, and people were given time to discuss the projects in small groups, and ask the presenting scientists questions about their research plans. People were surveyed about their attitudes to democracy and science funding at the start of the event, and about their evaluations of the scientists' presentations and their decision making processes afterwards.

Chief Researcher Cobi Smith is writing a paper about this type of deliberative event, its potentials and limitations compared to other types, and how it was used in the Australian and UK contexts. She is also writing a paper on whether it's possible to better engage genuine laypeople, rather than the usual science event crowd, using the recruitment of participants for these events as a case study.

Chief Researcher(s)

• Cobi Smith

Supervisory Panel

• Dr Rod Lamberts CPAS, Australian National University
• Dr Gene Rowe Consumer Science, Institute for Food Research, UK (Advisor)