Science in Public Research Network

Author: Angela Cassidy

The Science in Public (SiP) research network provides a central point of contact for anyone involved with or interested in academic research about SiP in the broadest sense. This includes any work which considers relationships between science, technology and medicine; ‘the public’/multiple publics; media and culture; and the broader public sphere. Science in Public fosters cross-disciplinary discussion and debate between researchers across the many fields and disciplines which address these topics, including science communication; science and technology studies; history of science; development, policy, media and cultural studies; and literature and the arts. In 2016 we celebrate our tenth anniversary, having grown out of an ongoing UK based annual conference of the same name. To mark this this and to celebrate the growth of SiP, we are formalising the organisation of the Network, much as PCST did in 2014. Our key aims are: i) To provide long term continuity for the annual Science in Public conference. ii) To give SiP research a more visible online presence via our web portal http://scienceinpublic.org/ iii) To facilitate conversations between researchers and practitioners in this area. In this workshop, we invite input from delegates at PCST 2016 about the SiP network and its activities. What can we do for the science communication community in the UK and worldwide? How can we help bridge divisions between research and practice? How should we proceed as an organisation? Last summer, we co-located the PCST Summer School with our annual conference at the University of the West of England, Bristol. Should this interaction continue and how can we improve it? We are also issuing a formal Call for Participants: for people to contribute to SiP as members, Committee members, meeting hosts, website developers and writers, and any other ideas you may have. Please come along to find out more!