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- by
- Dr. Sergio Bellucci
- Director TA-SWISS
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- is affiliated to the Swiss Science and Technology Council
- has a mandate to support (political) decision making related to new
technologies
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- evaluates technologies using ”classical” TA studies
involving scientific analysis and expert discussions (interdisciplin=
ary
studies)
- evaluates technologies by participative methods (PubliForum, publifo=
cus,
etc.) involving the general public
- communicates its results to decision makers and to the general publi=
c
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- to provide scientific reliable, interdisciplinary studies for target
groups in order to improve public debate
- to initiate a debate about technology at a pre-political level
- to support political decision-making by providing reliable, prospect=
ive
and independant TA materials
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- to create platforms for a mutual dialogue between various groups by
establishing participative forums (PubliForum, publifocus, PubliTalk=
)
- to enhance responsibility in R&D
- to strengthen national and international TA-networks
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- to seek public acceptance as reliable, prospective and independant TA
centre (national and international)
- to facilitate the dialogue between the scientific community and soci=
ety
at large on controversial issues
- to integrate participatory TA in policy-making processes on science =
and
technology issues (e.g. through parliamentary hearings)
- to become a useful and reliable partner for Swiss universities and
universities for applied sciences
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- Relevance, in view of: - pending political decisions
- current research activities
- Degree of controversy involved
- Impact (number of people affected) of the probable consequences of a
given technology
- Availability of foreign studies
- Possible synergies with other activities of scientific or administra=
tive
bodies
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- Transparency
- Institutional independence
- Timely identification of topics and issues
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- Instituional Setting of TA Organisation
- Credibility
- Communication
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- TA-Reports
- scientific reports
- short versions
- citizen reports
- fact sheets
- participatory TA
- PubliForums
- publifocus
- PubliTalk
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- TA-Events and communication
- meetings with politicians
- public conferences
- media conferences
- web-site
- newsletter
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- The PubliForum is a process involving about 30 lay citizens selected
from the general public where they can:
- obtain information on a particular topic
- select experts and take part in an
active dialogue with them
- formulate recommendations and include
them in the citizen report
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- Constitution of the citizens panel
- invitation sent to about 10’000 persons (randomly selected)=
li>
- selection of about 30 persons according to socio-demographic
characteristics (age, sex, region, education)
- Fact sheets for the citizens panel
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- Two preparatory week-ends
- basic information on the issue
- definition of the questions
- choice of experts
- PubliForum (4 days)
- dialogue between lay panel and experts
- the lay panel writes a report
- the lay panel presents the report + discussion
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- Recommandations for decision-makers (in politics, public administrat=
ion,
industry and research) on :
- the general public´s preferences,
- their understanding of the
problem,
- their hopes and fears
- etc.
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- Enables the general public to be drawn into the debate on controver=
sial
technologies at an early stage
- Fosters dialogue between the general public and the experts,
contributes to an informed public debate
- Provides the population with a platform to express their expectatio=
ns
and concerns
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- 1998 « Electricity and Society »
1999 « Genetic engineering and
Food »
2000 « Transplantation medicine »
2004 « Research involving human beings &raq=
uo;
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- A series of discussions among citizens, modeled on «focus
groups»:
- Structured discussions based on prepared questions
- Dialogue conducted exclusively among citizens (randomly selected or
among those persons directly concerned)
- The organizers analyze the discussions (opinions, arguments) and
publish a report
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- Recruitment of participants
- By mail (randomly sent out invitations)
- Via chosen organizations
- Documentation for the participants
- Approx. 10 Information fact-sheets
- Selection of one or two experts for an introduction to the topic
- Broad view
- Independent and neutral
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- Between 4 and 6 discussion groups
- In the different linguistic regions of Switzerland
- about 15 participants in a discussion group
- Introductory briefing followed by an approx. 2-hour discussion
- Discussion led by a moderator
- Editing and subsequent publication of a report
- Assignment given to a professional editor
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- Facilitates a compilation of contrasting and well-thought-out opinio=
ns
on aspects of technology
- Possibility of comparing different population groups
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- Transmits to the decision-makers (politicians, administration, resea=
rch,
industry, etc.) quality information concerning:
- The opinions and the values of the population
- Typical supporting arguments put forth
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- Past
- Stem cell research (spring 2002)
- In-vitro fertilization (spring 2003)
- Future
- Road pricing (2004)
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- Learning how young people think about certain aspects of research on
human beings
- Raising the awareness of youth and young adults for what the forthco=
ming
Federal Law will say
- Publication and dissemination of a comprehensive report
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- Focus is on youth
- Introduced with a concrete case
- Experts provide background information
- Discussion in working groups
- Presentation and discussion of the results in a plenary meeting
- Summary report compiled by the organizers
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- PubliForum « Electricity and Society »
- Contributed to the promotion of a new kind of dialogue between scie=
nce
and society
- PubliForum « Genetic engineering and food »
- The results have been mentionned in the Parliament (in commission a=
nd
in the plenum), when the Federal Law on genetic engineering was
discussed.
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- PubliForum on Transplantation medicine
- Integration of the recommendations in the Federal Council´s
submission to parliament on the Federal Law on Transplantation
- Application by the St. Gall cantonal hospital for the setting-up of=
a
department for the psychological care of those involved in a transp=
lant
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- PubliForum on Transplantation medicine
- TA-SWISS has been invited to present the results of the PubliForum =
to
the Commission on Social Security and Health of the Assembly of Sta=
tes
- Publifocus on stem cells
- Part of the civil-society debate organized by the Foundation Scienc=
e et
Cité on stem cells (2002)
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- Publifocus on in-vitro fertilization
- The Federal Administration is to take the results into consideration
when deciding whether in-vitro fertilization is to be covered by the
obligatory medical insurance policy or not
- PubliForum on research involving human beings
- TA-SWISS will be invited to present the results to the relevant
parliamentary commission.
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- Wide range of possible political roles
- Early introduction of a theme into the political agenda
- Definition of objectives
- Evaluation of various options
- etc.
- Indirect Roles also possible
- Fostering dialogue between science and society
- Raising consciousness of technology's social aspects
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