By allowing CSOs to influence the research agenda, funders can ensure a better fit between CSO needs and requirements and the content of the research. Early inclusion of CSOs is furthermore useful to achieve certain policy goals, such as ensuring a strong link between societal needs and EU-funded research. In order to achieve CSO input into agenda setting funders can:
Guiding QuestionsFunders who are considering encouraging the involvement of CSOs in research projects should consider:
Example: Voices project as an example of agenda setting through public engagementThe VOICES (Views, Opinions and Ideas of Citizens in Europe on Science) project, although not one of the case studies of the CONSIDER project, is a good example of civil society engagement for the purpose of setting research agenda. It explored citizens' views on urban waste as a resource and its results were fed into the development of the next work programme in the Horizon 2020 funding programme. VOICES interacted with citizens using more than 100 focus groups and made extensive use of CSOs, in particular science museums, as means of communicating with citizens. 'The first port of call I would make in terms of who the facilitators would be is to look to the ECSITE network, and the kinds of science museums and science communicators who I think provide a fantastic job in mobilising that process'. (Richard Watermeyer, Cardiff University, evaluator of the VOICES project) |
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