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In
recent
years
there
has been
a
growing
recognition
in
government
and the
scientific
community
of
the need
to move
away
from an
old
model of
the
public
understanding
of
science
(known
as
PUS) to
one
which
involves
public
engagement
in
science
and
dialogue
between
scientists
and
the
public.
Today,
the term
Public
Engagement
(PE)
with
science
or
research
is used
most
frequently
by
people
working
in this
area.
What
is
public
engagement?
The
Research
Councils
use
Public
Engagement
as an
umbrella
term for
any
activity
that
engages
the
public
with
research,
from
science
communication
in
science
centres
or
festivals,
to
consultation,
to
public
dialogue.
Any good
engagement
activity
should
involve
two-way
aspects
of
listening
and
interaction.
As
the
Research
Councils,
we seek
to
create a
culture
where
the
research
sector
and
researchers
themselves
value
public
engagement
as an
important
activity,
and
where an
awareness
of
social
and
ethical
issues
informs
research
decisions.
Why
should
the
research
sector
engage
with the
public?
If
we
involve
and
listen
to the
public
(and
encourage
our
research
communities
to
involve
and
listen
to the
public)
then our
decisions
and
research
should
be more
responsive
to
society,
and
therefore
more
likely
to have
a
positive
impact
in
return
for the
investment.
Similarly,
if we
talk to
the
public
(and
encourage
our
research
communities
to talk
to the
public)
about
the
outputs
of our
research
then
society
will
share in
the
benefits
of that
knowledge,
whether
for
their
health,
wealth
or
culture,
and
therefore
the
research
will
have had
maximum
impact.
And
if we
encourage
researchers
to
interact
with
schools
to
enrich
students’
experiences
then
we can
help
improve
the
supply
of
skilled
people
to the
research
base and
the UK
economy.
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