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The Living Knowledge Network

Cuexpo 2008Victoria BC, May 2008

Norbert SteinhausThe International Science Shop Contact Point

What is a Science Shop?• A Science Shop (is a unit that) provides independent participatory research support in response to concerns experienced by civil society.

• The term ´science´ is used in its broadest sense, including social and human sciences, arts and engineering.

• Science Shops offer free or low cost access to scientific or technical knowledge.

70’s Netherlands, USA

80’s Australia, Denmark, England, Northern Ireland, Germany,Austria, France, Belgium

90’s Canada, Spain, Romania, Norway, Israel, New Zealand, Malaysia, Czech Rep, South Korea, South Africa

00’s Belgium, France, South Korea

2005 Portugal, Greece, Estonia, Latvia, Iceland, Japan, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Turkey, Finland

2006 Hungary, China, Italy, Israel, Czech Republic

2007 South Africa

From the 70’s to 2007

Science Shop - Wetenschapswinkel - Boutique de Science - Videnskabsbutiken -Wissenschaftsladen - Bazar de las Ciencias - InterMediu

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Living Knowledge Network

Science Shops are as diverse as the communities they work with. There is not one dominant organisational structure defining a Science Shop. How Science Shops are organised and operate is highly dependent on their context.

• LK offers a platform for international co-operation

• It increases the visibility and accessibility of Science Shops

• The network fosters the exchange of information• It allows quality control

Organisations that meet the definition of a Science Shop and do provide civil society with knowledge and skills through research and education on an affordable basis are welcome in the Living Knowledge network.

Options for the future organisational structure of the network and funding opportunities are under discussion

Living Knowledge Network

Practical impacts• Mentoring and training

consultancy,advise, exchange

• Increase visibility and accessibility• Exchange of information

International Contact Point (24 national contact points), Discussion list (300 subscribers), newsletter (200 subscribers),website, magazine, conference (250 people from 30 countries in Seville 2005, 330 people from 50 countries in Paris 2007)

• Dissemination of resultsmagazine and newsletter, linking networks, database

• Thematic research co-operationenvironmental issues, urban planning, Science Shop call

Living Knowledge Network

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Living Knowledge Network

• Critical mass• International alliances• National spin off

(government, national institutes)

• Local spinn off(hosting institutes, media, public awareness, empowerment)

• Funding opportunities• Proposal submissions • EC Science & Society

Strategic Impacts

Chances and opportunities• Science Shops are centres for community based

research and learning• Science Shops are facilitators between NGOs,

university and other external stakeholders • Funding awards are more and more depending on

a flow of information to the public• Addressing the public has become more popular

with researchers• Science Shops are ahead of researchers in

addressing the public• Science Shops are antennas for new problems and

needs

• Science Shops are incubators for new research areas

• Researchers take up research themes and methods from Science Shops

• Research departments take up participatory research methods and community based topics through interaction with a Science Shop

• Research departments take up community based research themes based on researchers personal interest, joint funding with Science Shops, government funding

Chances and opportunities

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EU Commission and Science Shops• The Science and Society Action Plan (2001)

appreciates the activities of Science Shops in bridging the gaps between citizens and research community.

• Funding of studies and network projects. In FP6 calls for further networking and establishment of new Science Shops.

• Workshops and conferences (e.g. Science in Society Forum 2005, Europe of Knowledge 2020)

• SCIPAS (2000 – 2001) STRATA-AM

• INTERACTS (2001 – 2003) STRATA-AM

• ISSNET (2003-2005) RPA-TN

• International Science Shop Network• LIVING KNOWLEDGE

• TRAMS (2005-2008) S&S-CA

• Science Shop Call 2006

EU Commission and Science Shops

[ACCENT (NoE) ]

[ CIPAST (CA)]

[SpidERA (SSA)]

[ EFSUPS (SSA)]

[ InMoSion ]

[ VECTOR ]

[ WINDFARMperception ]

[ NewCom ]

• FP 7 – Citizens‘ Participation ...

“The European Union is not just about institution building and bringing Member States closer together, it is also about bringing Europe closer to the citizens. Consequently, its research programmesare keen to promote partnerships and knowledge for living.

Recognising the crucial role Science Shops play in the local community in raising scientific access and awareness, the European Commission has been helping this movement evolve and reach critical mass.“

Rainer GeroldFormer Science and Society DirectorResearch Directorate-General, European Commission

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Thank you for your attention.

Norbert Steinhausnorbert.steinhaus@wilabonn.de; +.49.228.2016122

International Science Shop Network ‘Living Knowledge’www.livingknowledge.org

International Science Shop Contact Pointlivingknowledge@wilabonn.de

Bonn Science Shopwww.wilabonn.de