Listening and learning

2 December 2004

Capturing public opinion and feelings about science is one of three new themes in the Wellcome Trust’s £3 million public engagement grants scheme, Engaging Science.

Although Society Awards, of £50 000 and above, can support public engagement activities in any area of biomedical science, applications are being particularly encouraged in these three areas:

• Science for the people: how can we get scientists, the general public and groups such as policymakers together, so they can share thoughts and ideas and learn from one another? How can we enable lay people to feed into decision making or influence what research is carried out? And how can we actually get people directly involved in research projects?

• The nature of science: what is science? How is it carried out? What do scientists do? What can science do and what are its limits? How is scientific knowledge used?

• Me, myself and I: DNA databases; tissue samples; genetic information: how can we balance individual rights and wishes and our responsibility to others?

As well as Society Awards, support is also available for smaller projects or pilots, through People Awards of up to £30 000.