|
|
|
|
|
Proposal acronym : ON-NS/Up Proposal full title: OPEN NETWORK Growing Up NEW SCIENCE Understanding Date of preparation 19 /May/2005- PROPOSAL NUMBER : 030158 Type of instrument SSA in this case: Specific Support Actions : 4.3.6.2 (a) “Science and Society “ Beyond FP6. List of partners:
etc. (Check this participant numbering is reflected in the form A2 of each participant!) Name of coordinating person Paolo Manzelli EGOCREANET / LRE – c/o University of Florence . Co-ordinator email LRE@UNIFI.IT Co-ordinator fax +39/055/4573077 Contents page A1) Include a contents list selection : SOCIETY- LIFE-SCIENCE –NEST Extracted from : http://fp6.cordis.lu/fp6/list_areas.cfm ; http://www.cordis.lu/fp6/activitycodes KEY WORD CODES FROM THESAURUS: http://fp6.cordis.lu/fp6/fp6keywords.cfm Science Communication ; Public Understanding of Science , Science Policy. REE WORDS: ( Max. 100 characters) Public debate on science and society , Involvement of society in Scientific & Technological culture PROPOSAL SUMMARY PAGE : The centre of gravity of ON-NS/Up project proposed by the EGOCREANET (It) Scientific Association and other European partners and collaborators is to bring research on life sciences closer to society with the aim to implement social and ethical responsible research and to grow up public interest for science understanding in the context of European knowledge society . This objective will contribute to integrating and structuring European Research Area assembling a critical mass of European researchers in the multidisciplinary area of Life Science to improve the necessary aggregation of resources and research teams shoving and sharing the opportunities and the perspectives of the future European framework program and priorities in the field of life science and technology development. Partners are: SCIART (Cz), ENFA (Fr), UOP (Gr) , ESCSITE (Be), and some specialized stakeholders that can collaborate in Neurology and Stem and life-long education like : University of Bologna (It) University of L’Aquila (It) Qualital Consortium (IT), Vieusseux (It) ;Istanbul University (Tr), MIKSIKE, Educational COM.(Ee). Principal events opening Public debate on Science and Society those with the intention to promote life sciences and scientific culture will be scheduled during the year 2006 and are as follow : a) four national workshops (one day each) in the partner’s counties (Fr), (Cz) ,(Gr) , and a final Seminar (three days) organised by the Coordinator in Florence Tuscany (It) , b) the deliverables will be the production of reports of the events and other educational materials. An extended dissemination activity will largely diffused by the WEB portal (in English with abstracts in the partner’s languages) . An expected result will be an integrated approach with other good practices on strengthening links between working life, research and society creating an European space for cooperation in life science research and life-long learning. B.1 Objectives of the proposed project The propose ON-NS/Up project will be focused on developing a Strategy and Culture of Life Science communication with the Community to popularize advanced research, improving an European consensus and aggregation for future framework programs (Fp6 to FP7) , pursuing strategy on structuring ERA, and to follow general indications of Science and Society Agenda. As requested by the specific call id. Fp6 -2005-Science and Society-13 (4.3.6.2 –a), the ON-NS/Up partnership aim to encourage and assist public and private actors and scientists to organise themselves for improving “Life Science Communication” around the new ON-NS/Up activities in way that they become capable enhance proper initiatives at the interface of science and society. The “Centre of Gravity” of the ON-NS/Up proposal will be related to assist the European co-operation and co-ordination on the multi-disciplinary and multi-actors fields included in “Life Science and Technology” research area. The “Status of the Art” on this fundamental approach oriented to favour the citizen participation in promoting and strengthening ERA through facilitating mind-ecology. Innovation can be find in the previous actions envisaged to discuss the “science and society policy in Europe” already available at : http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/conferences/2005/forum2005/index_en.htm, and also see the link at : “Life sciences in society today: modern biology and visions of humanity” Certainly advances in science understanding drive European growth of civil society, but some times this not represents a linear progress just because sometimes the scientific and technologic development, especially about issues regarding Life Sciences ( i.e. Genetics application on biotechnology , use of Stem cells in Bio-medicine, Cloning of plants and animals, etc.), give rise to fears and scepticism in acceptance all those among citizens. Therefore the ON-NS/Up project proposal, as it is requested by the European Commission, would like to collaborate to bridge the gap between the scientific community and society at large, developing activities to sustain the “Science and Society” work plan, opening and developing a large debate on European Citizen both (i) for supporting by ON-NS/Up activities the aggregation European Research in Life Science Area, for realizing future project beyond FP6 , and (ii) to bring together policy-makers, researchers, and European citizens toward enhancing a culture of Life Science communication. Important themes will be : “Life Science in the changing relationship between science and society” and “ Life sciences and their influence on education and culture in contemporary knowledge society “. On the basis of such central issues, the ON-NS/Up will be fostered through a range of activities adapted to the issue, from the pooling of information; through the identification, development and spreading of good practices; to benchmarking, and target-setting across the strengthening ERA, especially looking at the perspectives and future-oriented topics of European Seventy Working Plan Hence the ON-NS/Up purposes should focus to Public understanding and confidence of Life Science, and to Strengthen links between working life, Life Science research and Society, but also to stimulate and to assist European researchers and industry to encourage and facilitate their cross-cutting clusters for favouring a policy support on the coherent development of the European Lisbon Strategy. Improving the participation at FP7 opportunities linked the public understanding on new frontiers of Life Science and giving a future perspective of European Knowledge Society. In this sense one of the key objectives of the "ON-NS//Up“ Science & Society proposal would be the interconnection between the knowledge of the innovation triangle, it means among “Science-Society and Economy “, aiming to reinforce the Lisbon European Strategy. The next goal is broad intercultural and interdisciplinary perspective on the general argument Life Science Communication i.e. aiming to favour the understanding of European citizen about the fundamental conceptual changes from a mechanical views of traditional science to the recent developments of the science of life ( GMO, Stem cells , Nanotechnology , Bio-medicine, advances in Neuro- biology, etc.. ). All mentioned above put all into the context of the contribution of Life Science and Technology to the European Knowledge Economy dynamics. Finally the ON-NS/UP proposal would like to help create a different cultural and scientific environment about the advances in Science and Society’s vision, and the changes in the contemporary advancements of life sciences and technology, opening a debate through, Conferences , Seminars , Workshops , informative and interactive communication Web-Forums and mailing Newsletters to the following recipients: a. the public at large – especially including young researchers , students and secondary teachers. b. both policy- and decision makers that need to be informed about opportunities and choices from the range of options presented by Life Science Scientific and technological dynamic progress b. Scientific journalists for improving a cultural effort regarding science of life in the clear respect to ethic problems and to public concerns and aspirations The Science and Society ON-NS/Up actions following those objectives and purposes will draw an important role of the actions to enhance public awareness of science and society issues opening and sustaining a public debate on science and society and disseminating scientific knowledge to obtain a well-built involvement of European society in Scientific and technological culture about Life Science and Technology development in the context of growing up the European Knowledge Society. Finally the “ON-NS//Up” European partnership will work during the project as well as information- team that it will be activated to carry out specific analysis, and international confrontations by means the Specific Support Actions to potentially support the implementation of the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) in the 7th Framework Programme (FP7) achieving the following activities and events : a) through organizing at the dates fixed for the EUROPEAN SCIENCE WEEK 2006 in Florence an international Seminar (duration of 3 days with about 100 participants), and also other three exploratory workshops organized in the four partner's countries ( France , Greece, Czech Republic and Estonia) with about 30 participants with a duration of one day each. The partner ECSITE will be more committed to guarantee a large information in Europe of the ON-NS/Up actions by means the YESS (Yearly European Science & Society event) co-organization see in : http://www.ecsite.net/new/YESS/index.asp In all events organized by the ON-NS/Up partners , to all participants should not be requested to pay any registration fee. The main purpose of ON-NS/UP activities will be to promote Life Science and Technology following the European research topics defined under the website “Research Themes in FP7”: http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/future/themes/index_en.html) b) through developing web-models for the use of permanent e-learning on the basis of a multidisciplinary integrated system, to explore interactions between contemporary Life-Sciences and to promote comparative studies and also spreading best practices on the theme “Life Science Communication”, aiming to opening new areas of production and business by means strengthening the integration between cognitive and ICT advanced research innovation in an enlarged Europe c) by favouring cognitive potentials for initiating follow-up research activities, and/or developing future collaborative actions within or outside the frame of Europe, giving an open access to the knowledge-based society to all European citizens including the participation of women and young scientists. d) finally the ON-NS/Up project will been planned to increase the participation in FP7 to other complemented synergic potential sectors FP7 - Potential sectors
Some of the above research topics are defined under the website Consultation on Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) in the 7th Framework Programme (FP7): http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/future/ssh/index_en.cfm B.2 Relevance to the objectives of Science and Society Sustainable development of European Knowledge Society seeks combine motivation and consensus by European Citizen on three relevant objectives: social, economic, and scientific & technological. The above statement is more and more important when the science advancements concern the "Life Sciences" and other similar research based activities, for instance , Biotechnology GMO, Genetics, Proteomics, Bio- medicine and Bio-pharmacy (application of stem cells) , Neurology of behaviour in humans and animals. The essential approach in these areas is to develop a strategy in order to advance understanding of "Life Sciences“ among citizens , to prevent the conflicts and misunderstanding in the debate with science and public. As a matter of fact the traditional science popularization ( i.e. Physic, Chemistry, Biology ) , is well disseminated while the recent advancement of "Life Sciences" is diffused to people more in terms of ignorance than knowledge. Starting from lower public interest on scientific knowledge, especially in "Science of Life", becomes quite difficult to link science to economic and social-policy and progress including a good approach on ethics and other questions as an additional value. In fact in the course of conflicting problematic made at very low level of advanced scientific knowledge , certainly it is easy to observe how much decreases the consensus of citizen to the "Life Science Advancements", so that democratic values seems to be an hindrance to an harmonic development of contemporary Science and Society. Henceforth a sustainable design of Science and Society integration, need to take in serious consideration such problems acting between Democracy and Scientific ignorance about Life Science advancement and Socio-economic perspectives of the future European Knowledge Society. Therefore the ON-NS/Up project would like to initiate as well as a "seed- project" to find out and test the best strategy oriented to favour a creative dynamics for implementing during the year 2006 the citizen understanding on Life Science areas, in a way that scientists and people ( i.e. young researchers , policy makers, decision makers and so on) will be oriented to facilitate future FP7 projects by means designing the better assessment and legitimacy of Science of Life advanced research and bio-technology in the context of European socio-economic development . This would be aimed at (a) encouraging greater mutual and comparative understanding of the history and the advancements of Living Sciences and Technology from an inter-disciplinary perspective; (b) favouring through international workshops and a Final Seminar for the European Science Week 2006 the growing up of skills and values necessary for the development of civil society in the context of an extended Europe. On the bases of those perspectives of relevance the ON-NS //Up project will be active in developing a large and conscious consensus of European citizen diffusing the results of those expert international meetings by means a WEB-Portal written in agreement with a great range of cross-border and multilateral similar initiatives in Life Science dissemination The ON-NS/Up project’s will contribute to the scientific and technological relevance by enhancing people understanding of the advanced research starting from the status of the art of the SCIENCE of LIFE and spreading on the advancements of contemporary research in a wider societal and policy of European Science and Society as well as is stated in the FP6-2004-Science-and-society-13 call. Hence the activities carried out by the ON-NS/Up project in the LIFE SCIENCE area are intended to favour Europe on taking advantage by means growing up an OPEN NETWORK for NEW SCIENCE (ON-NS) for improving multidisciplinary European science research. The ON-NS Group will work for finding an European agreement on achieving and disseminating advanced cognitions and experimental research results in decoding the genomes of living organisms, and for advance in better knowledge about the complex relationships between genetic and epigenetic characters More particularly the ON-NS/Up project’s activities will be focused to the benefit of public understanding and citizens health and consequently to increase the competitiveness of the European biotechnology industry supporting the knowledge society European development. The emphasis of ON-NS/Up dissemination actions will be put on popularizing research aimed at bringing up basic knowledge of LIFE SCIENCE through to the application stage ("translational" approach) to enable real, consistent and coordinated progress at European level in applied sciences and medicine and improve the quality of life. Justification of the relevance in relation to an European added value concerns the "Post-genomic" research based on analysis of the communication interactivity at various levels in living systems i.e. regarding the communicative interactions between molecule-molecule, and molecule –organisms, controlled by means communications among human genome and genomes of other organisms, all this innovative effort is looking to understand the evolutionary relationships among Energy Matter and Information an establish a new conceptual paradigm of LIFE SCIENCE understanding. The above ON-NS/UP innovative actions will culminate in numerous applications in various mental health-related sectors ( neurology, biology, medicine) and notably in the development of new diagnostic tools and new treatments capable of helping to combat diseases that are not at present under control, offering major potential markets. The multidisciplinary debate organized through in presence Conferences and by means the on line dissemination, will improve ERA because of may also have implications on other research on areas such as environment and agriculture into an integrated science & society development. In addition, there is a particular priority for Europe to mobilise its efforts in a coordinated way towards combating cancer and confronting the major communicable diseases linked to poverty. This research will therefore concentrate on translating the new knowledge being created, which is not limited to genomics and other fields of basic research, into applications that improve a change of mentality of European citizen in relation to the Science of Life. Henceforth the ON-NS/Up scientific and technological relevance is focused in enabling the European Union to improve its position in ERA Trans-disciplinary area aiming to benefit fully from the economic and social spin-offs of the expected innovative scientific developments, as well as contribute to the international debate, that it is becoming necessary both to increase investment in Life Science European Industry and integrate the research activities conducted in Europe within a coherent effort by means a large popularization of the Life Science research advancements. ON-NS/UP Specific Support Actions envisaged to discuss the science and society after FP6 including monitoring and assessment activities, and to FP7 will be used to help in preparations for future Community research and technological development policy activities especially to strengthen links between working life, research and Society The relevance to the objectives of Science and Society can be measured by the catalytic activities carried out by the ON-NS/Up Project will be addressed to the following aspects of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) especially towards enhancing advanced research by reinforcing a culture of science communication . - It is well known that the proposal for FP7 has been designed to continue the drive, like with FP6, towards the realisation of the European Research Area Therefore the FP7 proposal adds to the drive a strong impetus for knowledge for growth and so that for reinforcing this aim the ON-NS/Up proposal is looking forward to favour an intensive and enriching debate to promote the EU Scientific culture in preparation of future FP7 projects and to support European policy strategy to implement the growing of Knowledge Society. Relevant FP7 identified themes includes the following “ASS” activities oriented to the reinforcement of the multidisciplinary scientific research, technological development and innovation because this triangle of knowledge is at the heart of the knowledge-based economy, and need to be considered a key factor in growth, the competitiveness of companies and employment but also a key factor for the social actuation of a cultural democratic advancement focused of the citizen’s ability to understand science and society development of the European Knowledge Society. In particular the policy and social relevance of ASS actions will be focused to assist with specific aspects of work under the Seventh of the specific programme Integrating and Strengthening the European Research Area activity on Support for the coherent Development of Research and Innovation Policies about the following European Programs: see: http://www.cordis.lu/era/fp7.htm a) COOPERATION Program : Food, agriculture and biotechnology, where cross-thematic approaches of LIFE SCIENCES can be aggregate networks of research subjects of common interest in this interdisciplinary field and the ON-NS/Up project will help the Building strategy for the ERA of knowledge for growth. b) Program IDEE : - The ON-NS/Up proposal will promote a strategy for giving a new impetus to increase Europe’s growth and competitiveness in the Life Science and Technology favouring to strengthen the excellence of our science base socio-economic sciences and the humanities, by means fostering competition at European level and helping the promotion of multidisciplinary and multi-actors ( Research and Industry) aggregations for participating to the future FP7 calls. The ON-NS/Up project will support “Life Science frontier research” carried out by research partnership, popularizing at European level, an integrated knowledge including socio-economic sciences and the humanities to obtain a critical consensus of the European citizen about the conscious development of LIFE SCIENCE research and technology c) Program Capacities (see: http://www.cordis.lu/fp7/capacities.htm) especially helping SME’s to enjoy in the research infrastructures for Life Science applications as will be indicated in the sectors : Research potential of Convergence Regions and Science in society . d) Program Citizen for Europe : http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/education_culture/activecitizenship/new_programme_en.htm The ON-NS/Up project will give particular emphasis to citizen’s opportunity to interact and participate in constructing Science and Society future development and to act as a catalysts of an European identity taking into account , Science and Ethics fundamental approach in Life Science and Technology that will be debated, accepting the concept that "ethics does not oppose science", therefore in all the ON-NS/Up activities this notion will be considered as well as gentlemen rule to discuss ethics issues in a "friendly spirit of tolerance". B.3 Potential impact The ON-NS/Up project will provide results of significant value to strategic decision making of social and technological management of the dynamic evolution of knowledge society. As a matter of facts through the LIFE SCIENCE COMMUNICATION it will become possible to transform the traditional mechanical paradigm of science and at the same times understand that this fundamental strategic change can be seen as well as a competitive advantage for developing without deep conceptual crisis. Hence the ON-NS/Up project can favour the overcoming of inconclusive uncertainties covered by a large areas of ignorance about LIFE SCIENCE understanding . So that the ON-NS/Up Seed Project will enable robust strategies to be developed on the FP7 European Program .Justification of the potential impact in the light of the European added value is a consequence of the policy strategy of the European Council in Lisbon in March 2000, where the European Union set itself the ambitious objective of becoming "the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustained economic growth providing more and better jobs and greater social cohesion". Any way after five years it is possible to observe a postponement of such objective thus it is important to allow the new FP7 can accelerate the development of European Knowledge Economy. The fundamental basis of avoid the recession of Lisbon Strategy, in the perspectives of ON-NS/UP proposal, it is connected with the human resources understanding in a way that citizen can change the mentality from the old mechanical paradigm to the new life science communication paradigm. This change of mentality on Fundamental knowledge and basic tools for Life Science understanding in all organisms including specific brain research will be the Europe's main power for improving a shared conceptual change in the direction of improving knowledge driven society. This is the main effort focused by the ON-NS/Up proposal to get an wide impact to the suitable and sustainable “ Mental Change”, stressing the need for Europe's scientific innovation in education and training systems to "adjust both to the needs of the knowledge-based society and to the need to raise the level of employment and improve quality of life. Europe's transition towards a knowledge driven economy and society, and its sustainable development in the interests of the quality of life of all citizens will be all the easier if it takes place in a way which is properly understood and managed by European citizen. This require a substantial attempt in dissemination of LIFE SCIENCE research , concerning the issues of developing an integrated knowledge on the perspectives of Life Science and Technology in the context of contemporary international rethink of the developmental scenario of the future of life to obtain a sustainable knowledge economy . In respect of , economic, political, social and human sciences studies should be more integrated with LIFE SCIENCE research and technological innovation , to ensure the harnessing and exploitation of an exponentially increasing quantity of information and knowledge and an understanding of the LIFE SCIENCE processes at work in this area, i.e. human genomics, proteomics, comparative evolutionary neurology among plants, animals and human creatures. In Europe, this issue regarding the need to transform the mechanical character of the traditional science to the new paradigm of Life Sciences, arises in particular in connection to the European Union future enlargement, the functioning of cultural -democracy and new forms of scientific and technological European governance based on scientific decision-making levels and the increasing role of civil society and its representatives in the life science open debate, and in the general context of this new approach to the European Knowledge Society that can be improved in the propulsive scenario of the FP7 calls proposals. Issues such as these proposed by the ON-NS/Up programme have a clear and intrinsic European added value in the large dimension of European but also national and international research activities, and there is much to be gained by examining them from a global perspective, taking into account the historical dimension as well as the cultural heritage. Therefore it seems highly appropriate to address these aspects on the extended European scale. What is more, action taken at Union level will make it possible to ensure the requisite degree of methodological coherence and guarantee that full benefit is derived from the rich variety of multidisciplinary approach of the ON-NS Project . In fact the exploitation and/or dissemination plans of the ON-NS/ Up proposal are adequate to ensure optimal use of the project results, where beyond the participants in the current support action giving innovative contribution to the dissemination and valorisation of Life sciences areas , genomics and biotechnology for health derived by the results obtained in this field under Sixth Framework Programme and in particular in relation to strengthening ERA about some relevant FP6 results about the following thematic priority areas: Citizens and governance in a knowledge-based society ; Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health and Food Quality and Safety. In particular regarding the next themes: (i) Advanced genomics and its applications for health (ii) Fundamental knowledge and basic tools for functional genomics in all organisms: (iii) gene expression and proteomics; (iv) structural genomics; (v) comparative genomics and population genetics; (vi) bio-informatics; (vii) multi-disciplinary functional genomics approaches to basic biological processes. (viii) Application of knowledge and technologies in the field of genomics and biotechnology for health: (ix) technological platforms for the developments in the fields of new diagnostic, prevention and therapeutic tools (including pharmaco-genomic approaches, stem cell research and alternative methods to animal testing); (x) in the field social Science in a Knowledge Based Society in relation to the exploitation program activities oriented to mobilise and to develop in a coherent effort, in all their riches and diversity an advanced understanding of LIFE SCIENCE in an knowledge Driven European Society based on new forms of open communication and continuous learning and cultural and scientific relationships between its citizens, and between its citizens and research and governmental institutions. For the contributions previously signed by the research themes ( i- to- x ) the ON-NS/Up support actions will operatively be of assistance to the proposal strategy of the European Council in Lisbon (2000) that underlined that "human resources are Europe's main strength", stressing the need for Europe's education and training systems to "adjust both to the needs of the knowledge-based society and to the requirement to raise the level of employment and improve quality" the ON-NS/Up activities will be envisaged on the following actions oriented to a Knowledge driven Society for a better contemporary cohesion where relevant, mainly in the following fields : - (a) - developing ITC technologies and WEB-Learning in the FP7 European (2007-13) program, especially including a comparative analysis on animal and plant neurology - (b) - favouring creativity development of the human nervous system (ii) studying human development in youth and the brain and the ageing process as well as a fundamental competitive strategy - (c) - enhancing European collaboration to the emergence of new forms of cultural and scientific citizenship’s understanding in the respect and cultural identities and diversities in Europe opening a social on line dialogue involving citizen and researchers in Europe as well as in the rest of the world. In operational terms, ON-NS/UP exploitation and/or dissemination plans will also focus on support SCIENCE & SOCIETY European Program for: (i) trans-national research and comparative studies and the coordinated development of Life Science and technology (ii) interdisciplinary Life Science Research in support of educational and public policies; (iii) give a contribute in support of the establishment and exploitation on a European scale of Life Science and Technology research and industry infrastructures . The above indication about the complex exploitation and dissemination plans can develop broad approach of ON-NS/Up impact that clearly will be, not limited to multidisciplinary functional genomics approaches to basic biological processes and other Neurological fields of basic research, but will be shadowed with regard essentially to: 1) European strategies of interdisciplinary e. learning - developing necessary networks and dissemination initiatives to coordinate multidisciplinary national and European science and society research activities, - supporting translational research; 2) combating the mental poverty linked to the transition difficulties between the industrial and the post industrial society which have priority in terms of development of mental changes development at European Union and international level for improving future Knowledge Society. Following this ON-NS/Up coordinator and partners get the following main expectations and deliverables from the proposed objectives , initiatives and actions that in conclusion consists: in set up an open dialogue between the main actors of European Life Sciences and Social Sciences researchers, policy makers and the citizens including the young scientists, students and teachers, for whom awareness for a responsible future development of Science and Society as well as it is necessary aiming to establish stronger links between all these multidisciplinary European research and citizen. As a matter of facts the potential interest groups will be join opening the ON-NS/Up proposal to Universities and Research institutions, Educational Institutions, Life Science Industry, Science and Cultural Media , Citizen associations, Private Foundations, Policy and decision making groups .In particular this open dialogue mostly realized by internet mailing, and forums in the WEB-Portal , will be crucial for improving the consciousness of citizen and avoid their uncertainties coming from the real misuse of genetics, cloning, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) , medical use of stem cells. Finally a key element of ON-NS/Up societal and policy impact will be determined by the implementation of a WEB Based Infrastructure with a great LINK opportunities (www.EGOCREANET.IT) that within the project ON-NS/Up will be planned to build a web site section of LIFE SCIENCES , editing the abstracts of the conference and workshops in English delivering the results to public libraries and to Science & Society Editors and also to European Science-shops . B.4 The consortium and project resources Describe the role of the participants and the specific skills of each of them. Show how the participants are suited and committed to the tasks assigned to them, show complementarity between participants to generate added value with respect to Science and Society. Describe the resources, human and material, that will be deployed for the implementation of the project. Include a SSA Project Effort Form, as shown below, covering the full duration of the project. Demonstrate how the project will mobilise the critical mass of resources (personnel, equipment, finance…) necessary for success; show that the overall financial plan for the project is adequate. (Recommended/maximum length – five pages) Mobilisation of resources requested seem reasonable for achieving the project objective will developed by utilizing the complementary roles and the specific skills of the group of partners that mobilize different experiences in a critical mass for producing and disseminating innovative resources for favouring in Europe an ASS to generate added value with respect to Science and Society, oriented towards to bridge research closer to society through empowering Culture of “Life Science Communication with the Society” . Co-ordinator Role: 1) EGO-CreaNet Profile (Italy) http://www.egocreanet.it - It is a telematics international "no for profit" association in joint Venture with the Laboratory of Education Research and Innovation (LRE) of the Faculty of Science of Florence University. The role of EGO-CreaNET can be qualified as well as an “Virtual International Agency” (V.I.A.) working on Research & Development Areas . EGOCREANET “V.I.A.” aggregate highly talented researchers with specific skills to realize an international cooperation to favour the complex strategy of improving the European Knowledge Society through improving conceptual innovation and creative alliances for realizing various projects. - See EGOCREANET developmental strategy in : http://www.descrittiva.it/calip/dna/fasi_sviluppo_egocrea.htm - To the EGOCREANET “V.I.A” gives adhesion an international team of European researchers and innovators All the participants of such “V.I.A. team of EGOCreaNet” , are not engaged to work on the entire goal and aims but, some of them will be requested to interact to furnish their specializations on the promotion and realization of special tasks, in some R&D projects or developmental plans in Science & Society. Therefore during this preparation of the project proposal titled : Open Network for Growing Up New Science Understanding ( ON-NS/Up ) , where the EGOCREANET assumes the role of coordinator on the basis of an appropriated team of experts , engaged for improving and id successful to realize this proposal: - the EGOCREANET V.I.A team in the project ON-NS/Up , was dedicated on giving a collaboration in the fields of : a) Life Science popularization and WEB-dissemination including e. Learning models and Brain Learning strategies, b) Knowledge Management on “Life Science & Business strategies ” , especially in relation to the promotion of various projects European ERA on Life Science , acting beyond FP6 , c) Web-Portal Construction for developing ICT social and economic interactivity and Human capital interaction for - This role of EGOCREANET V.I.A. Team , must do a continuing characterization during the development of the entire ON-NS/Up project and until will obtain a successful results and a good evaluation. - Staff of EGOCreaNET V.I.A. for the ON-NS/Up Project proposal will be composed by the -following experts: Paolo Manzelli EGOCREANET President (It) ; Giacomo Pettrini QualitalConsotioum- Pisa (It); Linda Giannini Egocreanet (It) Carlo Nati EgoCreanet (It) , Fortunati Giuseppe Egocreanet (It) , Dario Cillo, Ed.Scuola.Com (It) ; Beatrice Paradiso -Neurology University of Ferrara (It), Leonardo Piccinetti EuroConsult (Be), Sema Birler, Istanbul University,(Tr) , Stasys Paulauskas, Eksponente. Com (Lt). For further information see: http://www.chim1.unifi.it/group/education/index.html; and specific for ON-NS initiatives see : http://www.egogreanet.it . 2) The contribution of the Civic Action Group “Dialogue between Science and Art”, Czech Republic, (www.sciart-cz.tk), short name SCIART (Cz). The Civic Group "Dialogue between Science and Art" was officially institutionalized in May 2002. It represents a group of scientists and artists who are interested in communication with friends from opposite fields. As the communication grew from accidental to regular, the quality and forms changed. There were several reasons to organize such Non Governmental Organization (NGO). First of all, the official institution may hardly found a way to gather together such diverse group on the official basis. NGO is composed of the people who do what they consider as important, and in spite of their private time, personal involvement and input of their money, they do it because they fill it is necessary to do it. NGO is strong part of Civic Society which several times substitute the state official structures, and many time more efficiently. Another reason for establishing such a group was the different perceptions of science and art in society. Many people view science as a cold, precise activity, one that is limited in its scope and that is ultimately dehumanizing. Its practitioners aren't viewed as people who necessarily shape the social environment. Scientists can be partially to blame for their social standing. Thanks to the need for specialization, their language has become incomprehensible to the average person. On the contrary, art is seen as something that creates integrated individuals and artists are considered as intellectuals, able to understand and express human consciousness. The truth is that only in science do we find something really new. Current art has more or less returned to the predictable, proven patterns of the past. Society has been broken down into target groups for specific cultural products, which lower the consumer to the mass average. We're returning to the "bread and circuses" of antiquity, where the hero is the film stars, TV personality, and rock musician. Efforts have been taken to form an association of artists and scientists to bridge the communication gap that still exist between the two. With today's technological advances creating both hope and anxiety, more than ever we need to rethink the links between these two spheres, which have so profoundly affected our human existence. However short history of the SCIART, several very interesting and well received activities were performed. Here is the list of those most important: 1. In 2002 Art exhibition together with the Seminar was organized with the international participation both artists and scientists. The book of lectures presented on Seminar, and pictures showed on art exhibited, were published (see the web). 2. In summer 2003 the first Workshop on Science and Art was organized for high school and university students. The booklet and CD was issued reflecting mainly the art produced by participants during the workshop. Dr. Giboda was invited by Italian Netdays organizers to present his CD from about mentioned workshop, and got a price for it (see the web). The book of essays on relation of science and art, with 27 colored pages of art 3. On 2004 the 2nd summer workshop was held with participants from Italy, Finland, Taiwan and Czech Republic. The Jury of Netdays 2004, an initiative of the European Commission, awarded to highly commend a “Youth Knowledge Network between Taiwan and Dr. Michal Giboda, Natdays National Correspondent, Czech Republic, for the project “Dialogue between Taiwan and the Czech Republic”. On October 11. 2004, the first Public Debate in Czech Republic on Science and Art was held in one of the most popular theatre in Prague. The theater was completely sold out since very prominent artists and scientists were participating. The debate has showed public interest in the topic discussed in untraditional way and outside the classical institutions. Dr. Michal Giboda was hosted by Czech Radio in the popular program “Guest at Home” where outside his professional activities in tropical countries (specialist in human tropical parasitosis), even the issue of science and art wsa discussed. 4. Similar debate was held in the facility of Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic on 21 March 2005. The other speakers and other audience discussed on theme “Science and Art – similarities and differences”. The summer workshops become a tradition and South Bohemian Regional Autority include the 2005 workshop among the most prestigious activities of 2005. (see the Program in attachment). 5. The professional profiles of Dr. Michal Giboda, including his extracurricular activities (TV, newspaper, member of the Syndicate of Czech journalists, etc.) are seen on the web site www.sciart-cz.tk. During the time several people both from scientific and artistic circle became active collaborators. On behalf of many I would like to mention some: - Dr. Frantisek Weyda, Czech Academy of Sciences, digital photography. - Dr. Peter Vopenka, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics, former minister of education of the Czech Republic. - Tomas Proll, sculptor. - Vaclav Hanus, president of the Czech Nuclear Society - Martina Minarikova, jeweler. - Tomas Pajdla, computer specialist - Stanislav Diviš, painter, Professor on Academy of Art - Andrej Stančák, neuroscientists, Professor of neurophysiology at Medical faculty. All those people are keenly interested in the spreading the information to the public and make society more capable critically thinking. The described project resources can be useful as well as a starting up critical mass to encourage the development of learning objects and tools for maintaining an adjourned dissemination Life Science and technology research included in the ON-NS/Up Project proposal and at the same time to engage additional members from the broader Life Sciences Research community and to provide a forum for exchange of experiences and best practices in the use of the standards developed. 3)- ENFA- Ecole Nationale de Formation Agronomique de Toulouse-Auzeville (Fr) : contribution to ON-NS/Up project. ENFA is the National French Institute for initial training and in-service training for all the teachers of the Ministry of Agriculture (from all disciplines). It is engaged in science education research, especially in the field of biotechnology. This specific position allows it to try and improve science understanding of secondary pupils, especially their knowledge on the nature of science and on the inter-relation between science and society. This public is of importance for the future of European Research. ENFA is part of the « Agrobiopole » of Toulouse which brings together centres of research, centre devoted to agricultural teaching as well as the « Services Centraux du Ministère de l’agriculture », and several professional organisations. In particular, an IFR (Institut Fédératif de Recherche ) devoted to Cell Signalling and plant Biotechnology, comprising 20 research groups is part of the « Agrobiopole ». The « association des semenciers », bringing together 21 industries in the field of plant selection is implicated in the « Agrobiopole ». All these factors allow ENFA to establish relationship with industry and research institutes. The interdisciplinary research team “Didactiques des Questions Scientifiques Economiques et Sociales Emergentes” works on Socio-Scientific Issues in education in the field of Science-Technology- Society. Researchers in education in different disciplines are members of this team, this allows us to study the social and economical implications of science and technology. We have studied formal and unformal education in science museums. ENFA was an European Initiative for Biotechnology Education (EIBE) partner since 1995 and contributed to its activities till the end of the programme in 2000 (member of the research and evaluation group, organisation of workshop and seminar, contribution to the development of unit, contribution to international conferences, publications of research papers,...). Last year, we have assessed the Université des Lycéens (University of High-School Students). This University was set up in France by the Mission d'Animation des Agrobiosciences or MAA in order to make scientific knowledge more relevant to students and to combat a growing lack of interest in science among students. The scheme involves a series of lectures to students by scientists, each followed by a debate. The organisers hope that by 'personifying' scientific research in this way, students will be more motivated and will begin to see the nature of science and careers in science in a different way. Some of selective publications on these issues are : Biology Education For The Real World – Student – Teacher – Citizen, J. Lewis, A. Magro, L. Simonneaux (Eds.) 2003, 366p.,Toulouse : ERIDOB - ENFA. Simonneaux, L. (2003). Different types of classroom debates on biotechnology. Are these simply an exercise in rhetoric or do they encourage a well-founded critical attitude ? , In Science Education Research in the Knowledge-Based Society, Dordrecht : Kluwer Academic Publishers, 285-294. Albe, V. & Simonneaux, L. (2002). Teaching socio-scientific issues in classrooms, National Association for Research in Science Teaching, 7-10 avril 2002 à New Orleans (USA). Simonneaux, L. (2002). Analysis of classroom debating strategies in the field of biotechnology, Journal of Biological Education, 37, 1, 9-12. Simonneaux, L. (2001). Role-play or debate to promote students' argumentation and justification on an issue in animal transgenesis. International Journal of Science Education. Vol 23, N° 9, 903-928. Simonneaux, L (2000). Influence of cultural and disciplinary identity on the way teachers in agricultural education in France relate to knowledge in biotechnology. New Genetics and Society, Vol 19, N° 1, 23 - 48. Simonneaux, L.; Ducamp, C.; Albe, V. ; Simonneaux, J. & Hirtzlin, N., Are high-school students' perceptions of science affected when scientists present their work to them? ESERA 2005 Barcelone 4) - The contribution of the Department of Social and Educational Policy, University of Peloponnese (http://www.uop.gr, short name: UOP(Gr) The Department of Social and Educational Policy of the University of Peloponnese was established under the Presidential Decree 118/2003 and belongs to the School of Social Sciences, in Corinth. Its prime mission is to offer under-graduate at this stage and post-graduate at a latter stage, university level education, focusing on the scientific study and analysis of all the dimensions of the framework, i.e. the structural, organizational, functional, administrative, political, economic and social within which various educational processes (both formal and informal) are developed. Τhe Department of Social and Educational Policy currently provides individual modules (e.g. ‘Science-Technology-Society’, ‘Life Long Education and Learning’, ‘Communication Theories’ ‘Issues of Functional Literacy: Science, Informatics, Mathematics’, ‘Informal Education’) as well as a whole group of modules entitled ‘Communication and Development of Educational Materials and Programmes” which have strong relevance to the field of ‘Science Communication’. The provision of these modules denotes the strategic orientation of the Department towards the development of novel methodologies for diffusing specialized techno-scientific knowledge to non-expert audiences through educational interventions either within formal or informal types of knowledge-based institutions (schools, universities, training centers, museums, NGOs, etc). It is exactly this strategic orientation, which makes the academic interests of the Department to fit so tightly with the general objectives of the ON-NS/Up project. Furthermore, specific members of the teaching and research staff who have recently moved to the Department by conducting research in the area of Science Communication and Public Understanding of Science and Technology have developed over the years a cummulative experience and expertise on these issues which has resulted into novel techniques and perspectives that could be proved beneficial to the ON-NS/Up project. Specifically, the two key persons Prof. Vasilis Koulaidis and Dr. Kostas Dimopoulos (Assistant Professor) have significant research and teaching experience on the issue of science and technology communication for non-experts. Some of their selected publications on these issues are: · Dimopoulos, K. & Koulaidis, V., (2002), The Socio-epistemic Constitution of Science and Technology in the Greek Press: An Analysis of its Presentation, Public Understanding of Science, 11, 225-241. · Dimopoulos, K. & Koulaidis, V., (2003), Science and Technology Education for Citizenship: The potential role of the Press, Science Education, 87, 241-256. · Dimopoulos, K., Koulaidis, V. & Sklaveniti, S., (2003), Towards an analysis of visual images in the school science textbooks and the press’ articles about science and technology, Research in Science Education, 33. 189-216. · Chrisridou, V., Dimopoulos, K. & Kou laidis, V., (2004), Constructing Social Representations of Science and Technology: The role of metaphors in the Press and the Popular Scientific Magazines, Public Understanding of Science, 13, 347-362. · Dimopoulos, K., Koulaidis, V. & Sklaveniti, S., (in press), Towards a framework of socio-linguistic analysis of science textbooks: the Greek case, Research in Science Education Besides, members of the Department have participated in the past in national and european projects of relevant aim with the proposes SSA. Examples of such projects recently completed are: ‘Inside the Big Black Box -IN3B’ (RPTN-2001-010) coordinated by CERN (2002-2004). Project within the 5th Framework of the European Commission (Improving Human Research Potential and the Socio-economic Knowledge Base) and coordinated by the European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN) aiming at analyzing the visits of both students and of members of the general public to European research centers conducting advanced research in particle Physics. The objective of the project is the results of this analysis to be used for improving the strategies employed by similar research centers in the popularization of the specialized knowledge they produce.‘The Human Genome in Schools’, coordinated by Ciencia Viva (Organization of the Portuguese Ministry of Science and Technology), Project for the cooperation of European schools on the social and scientific dimensions of Biotechnology, 2001. Therefore, the participation of the Department of Social and Educational Policy to the ON-NS/Up is expected to strengthen the consortium, in the sense that it has significant experience and expertise on the aspects of the project that have to do with the communication and diffusion of the knowledge about new advancements in Life Sciences to different kind of non-expert publics (e.g students, journalists, lay public). The Department of Social and Educational Policy has developed and tried a multiplicity of ways for communicating complex techno-scientific knowledge especially in the context of educational settings which are central addressees of the ON-NS/Up project. Furthermore, the participation of a partner from Greece, a society with very polarized public attitudes towards the applications of Life Sciences, contributes significantly representative of the societies from which the project originates. 5) ECSITE CONTRIBUTE to the ON-NS/Up Project : see website http://www.ecsite.net/new/index.asp ECSITE is a well known European Collaborative Association for Science Industry and Technology Exhibitions. ECSITE is the representative organisation for not-for-profit science-based visitor attractions in Europe. We have around 300 member science and discovery centres serving some 30 million visitors annually in 25 different European countries. The Prof. Richard Gregory from Bristol University principal creator of ECSITE interact till from the 1996, with Dr. Paolo Manzelli now President of EGOCreaNET for the foundation of ECSITE so that an confirmed collaboration is well established that can be useful and suitable to the tasks of a large dissemination to 25 European Countries, assigned to ECSITE of the project results ON-NS/Up. This task follows the guiding principle of ECSITE and its role of interactivity in promoting closer and more constructive engagement between science and society in Europe. We seek to improve the quality and quantity of provision in the science and discovery sectors by: disseminating information; facilitating exchange of ideas and best practice; promoting fruitful collaboration and partnership, research, and professional development and training. Therefore ECSITE in the ON-NS/Up program will achieved in a high-quality of collaborative relationship and complementarity between the other partners and stakeholders to generate added value with respect to Science and Society European Programs including Life science Education . As a matter of facts ECSITE develops “Xplora” , the European science education gateway, is preparing a series of chats with top experts in science and science education where two persons belonging to EGOCREANET, Linda Giannini and Carlo Nati , are working like experts in e. learning contents. Xplora gateway keeps track of current events in science education in Europe so that it will be possible to co-ordinate a strategy for Strengthen links between working life, research and Society, and also to co-organise some other Local and Regional Dialogue on “Science and Society” . Final B4 consideration : The resources, human and material, that will be deployed for the implementation of the ON-NS/Up project all the partners of ON-NS/Up consider sufficient including the SSA Project Effort Form, covering the full duration of the project. In relation to the financial Budget it is clearly each partner can mobilize other sources by other financial agency and in any case they agree that they do not ask a fee for the participants at the meetings , workshops , and international Seminar organised on the basis of this ON-NS/Up proposal. Therefore the perspective about critical mass of resources (personnel, equipment, finance…) of the ON-NS/Up project is considered completely adequate for the necessary for success of the entire proposal. .
B.5 Project management 1) Organisation, management and decision making structures of the project. The ON-NS/Up Working Plan Management will operate at three levels: As a forum for discussion and exchange of information about methodology and content issues among the network participants, with a view to circulate problems, solutions, good practices and models and with a particular emphasis on facilitating the institutionalisation of monitoring the impact of new Life Sciences Advancements. As a concerted action group where the conditions will be explored and decisions will be taken about the feasibility of setting a ‘European golden standard’ for disseminating the new Life Science Advancements so as to maximise accessibility and informative potential on the part of the European citizens. As an 'inner circle' of institutions already active and specialised in this field that not only aims at improving their standards and their collaboration but also at stimulating an 'outer circle' of academic and research institutions, policy makers, media and social actors in other member states with a view to expand the activity and the practical use of the information it conveys. Rapid and efficient communication systems will be essential for the network functioning. The exchange of information must be easy to achieve, accurate and suitable to the nature of the communication. Electronic mail will be used for communicating papers, informal letters, conferences on specific topics, discussion of minutes, project planning etc. e. mailing and faxing will be used for circulation of advanced notice of meetings and agendas for all urgent information that needs to be supported by copies. Normal postal services will be used for final documentation and the circulation of deliverables. A reporting structure and standard procedure will be introduced to support co-ordination. The network manager will offer the administrative support and collect the required information from the partners accordingly. The main responsibilities of the project management include: maintaining the work-plan ; ensuring the time plan and critical path of the network are maintained ; establishing documentation standards of the network; keeping an up-to-date network library; providing technical liaison and support to the partners; co-ordinating the production of interim reports and final reports as well as the submission of costs statements to the Commission; representing the project. The ON-NS/Up network as a whole will be overseen on a day-to-day basis by the Director based at EGOCREANET (It). They will be aided by, and immediately answerable to, the Management Committee, which will consist of five additional members (one representative from each participant). We outline the responsibilities of the various parts of the network in the next section. Responsibilities : The Director will have supervisory responsibility for ON-NS/Up |