The members of the informal group for Science Communication to the General Public (SCGP) met in Brussels to continue the discussions on some of the key issues concerning this issue. Massimo Gaudina, Head of the Communication Unit of…
“We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology.” – Carl Sagan
The attention given to a good idea is an indispensable part of its success.The challenge for a competitive, innovative and creative Europe does not only affect universities and businesses, but it is a challenge for European society at large.
Research and innovation are at the top of the Agenda of the European Commission, but if we are not able to go out, to communicate with people, then that will automatically block the process of making our society more modern.
The problems that Europe will have to overcome to become a real knowledge economy reside also in an attitude and state of mind of society at large. The importance of research and innovation, of science and private-public collaborations, of risk taking and new technology needs to permeate society at large.
Today society is not a bystander of innovation but is an active part in developing the new scientists, entrepreneurs, consumers and venture capitalists. Furthermore, if we want to invest heavily in creating a knowledge society, investing in research and innovation, this has to be accepted and understood by society at large.