Each year, ELSI organises an international symposium to provide a forum to discuss central concepts to our research scope. The motivation behind next year's topic is different as we'll be discussing 'Science in Society'. Because of the ongoing pandemic, the format will also be different as we move content online to create a global discussion on this important topic. The meeting will include keynotes showcasing numerous perspectives, a global discussion platform to encourage cross-pollination of ideas and a series of final panel discussions to offer a broad view of the problem and its potential solutions.
Why Science in Society? Scientific research is an inseparable part of society. The resources needed to conduct scientific research are provided by society, and ultimately the achievements of science must benefit society--whether it be through new discoveries, improved methodologies, or sharing our expertise. The success and sustainability of our research depend crucially on building closer and more effective connections across different social groups. Modern scientists need to learn why society invests in our work, how we may deliver a return on this investment, and how we can best support society through both tranquil times and times of crisis. How do we ensure the sustainability of science in society? How do we improve science literacy? As a community, we need to learn how to communicate to the public and policymakers in a manner that is most effective, and adapt to changing demographic and economic pressures in order to successfully recruit and cultivate the next generation of scientists.
Why ELSI? As a research institution, funded generously by society, whose aim is to achieve progress in broadly inter-disciplinary scientific areas, ELSI is well-positioned to widen the image of the role of researchers both within academia and beyond.
What is the scope of this symposium? This symposium urges us to consider what the role of science in society is and, by extension, how scientists should prioritise their time between research and societal engagement. This will be achieved by providing the cultural, historical and overall societal context of the meaning of science--including the roles of policy, advocacy, funding systems, and science communication--by expert scientists and non-scientists who work at the interface of science, government, the private sector and society at large. The symposium will include keynote presentations, (a)synchronous discussion opportunities and panel discussions.
Who is this symposium for? This symposium will be geared towards scientists of all fields, but welcomes participants from all branches of society.
Keep an eye on https://symposium2021.elsi.jp/ for more information!