Science and Society

What do we mean by 'science'?

By 'science' we mean all-encompassing knowledge based on scholarship and research undertaken in the physical, biological, engineering, medical, natural and social disciplines.

The challenge

Science improves the quality of daily life and underpins economic prosperity. Science will help us to address the main challenges we face as a nation and as a planet:

• tackling and adapting to climate change;
• global security and international terrorism;
• rising populations and the consequent pressure on food, water and other natural resources; and
• the impact of human diseases such as pandemic influenza, and animal diseases such as foot and mouth and blue tongue.

The potential for science to contribute to good policy-making and sound government has probably never been greater. To ensure we make the right decisions, now and in the future, we believe there is a pressing need to:

• strengthen the level of high-quality engagement with the public on all major science issues; and
• increase the number of people who choose to study scientific subjects and work in research and scientific careers.

Much valuable work has already been done in this area but we believe there is a need for a more mature relationship between science, policy, business, education, media and the public, with each group working to better understand the needs, concerns, aspirations and ways of working of the others.

The vision

The Government is committed to creating a society that is excited about science and values its importance to our social and economic well-being; feels confident in its use; and supports a representative, well-qualified workforce.

This vision encapsulates our long-term ambitions and we believe it directly addresses the science and society challenges facing us today. It has been developed with a broad range of stakeholders and is the basis for a consultation launched by DIUS on 18 July on developing a new Science and Society strategy for the UK.

The consultation

The consultation document sets out a proposed vision for Science and Society and poses some key questions and challenges facing the public, science and policy communities, including education, media and business. We want this vision to be widely shared, and we hope others will help to develop a fully collaborative strategy and implementation plan, including or aligning their strategies and actions with it.

We invite all sectors of society, science and policy to consider the questions posed, tell us how they are already addressing the key challenges, and propose ways of achieving the vision. We aim to publish an agreed strategy, with an agreed implementation and delivery plan, towards the end of the year.

We encourage all organisations within the broad science and society community to play an active part in this consultation, and host events and provide other opportunities for their contacts to input to the development of the strategy.