In this presentation I discuss what role science communication can play in responsible research and innovation from the perspectives of both policy and practice. I first present an overview of the recent development of the government's policy about science-society relations, with attention particularly paid to the positioning of public engagement and its linkage to evidence-based policy making. I then present a reflective analysis of a case of a public engagement project funded and conducted in 2012-2015 within an ongoing national initiative for evidence-based policymaking in Japan, which I was involved in as a project coordinator. In the analysis I examine how, and to what degree, the institutional culture of policymaking about science in the central government was challenged and pushed by the project towards more open, responsible and democratic governance of science. Last, I discuss limitations and potentials of promoting responsible innovation through public engagement approach.

Presenter

Mitsuru Kudo is an assistant professor at the Center for the Study of Co-Design at Osaka University, Japan. He has more than ten years experience in practising, researching and teaching science communication in Australia and Japan. His research interests lie in social aspects of science communication and innovation policy. He holds BLA, MEng, MA and PhD.