PERARES Partners at a glance

Belgium: Free University Brussels, Cyprus:European University, Denmark: Technical University of Denmark, Estonia: Institute for Baltic Studies, France: Foundation Citizen Science; Foundation for the Development of an Active Citizen Research (ADReCA); University of Lyon, Germany: Science Shop Bonn, WTT Science Shop Zittau, Greece: Technical University Crete, Hungary: ESSRG Science Shop, Ireland: University of Cork; Dublin Institute of Technology; Dublin City University, Israel: Heschel Center, Italy: University of Sassari, Netherlands: University of Groningen; Wagenigen University (WU); Research Centre (SDLO), Norway: University of Stavanger, Romania: Politehnica University Bucharest, Spain: University Rovira I Virgili Tarragona, UK: Queens University Belfast; University of Cambridge; University of Newcastle

 

PERARES project coordinator

Science Shop, University of Groningen (Netherlands)

The University of Groningen is a classical university founded in 1614. It has 20,000 students and 5,000 staff. Founded in 1979, their five Science Shops do research on behalf of civil society organisations, relating to nature, environment, pharmacy issues, medical issues, economics, social issues, arts & languages, etc. In this project, the Science Shop in Mathematics and Natural Sciences will be most involved. They are the winners of the bi-annual prize for best science shop project in Netherlands and Belgium, 2008 (both 1st and 2nd prize). For the science shops research, they can make use of students and researchers from the whole faculty of mathematics and natural sciences. This service is usually free-of-charge for the CSOs, or least without financial thresholds. Main activities are:
• Coordinating research projects based on questions from civil society,
• Advising on small questions for groups and individuals,
• Publicizing research results to all appropriate target groups and facilitating policy discussions with all relevant stakeholders,
• Actively involving students in research for CSOs, as part of their academic curriculum

 

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Belgium

Free University of Brussels
Institutional profile: The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is a medium-sized university, with about 11,000 registered students and some 2,882 members of staff (including 700 faculty teaching staff and 991 research workers), occupying a major position in Brussels, in Flanders and beyond. About 1800 VUB-students are from outsideBelgium, of whom about 800 come from Asia,Africa and South-America. The research conducted at VUB has certainly earned itself a reputation in the international research world. The Vrije Universiteit Brussel participates in practically every important European and international research initiative and action. Under the Sixth EU Framework Programme, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel is actively involved in about 60 projects.

For more than 20 years, the VUB has been active in science communication. The VUB (Prof. J.P. De Greve) was in 1988  the first Flemish university to develop the concept of the Science Week on campus. Five years later the idea was taken over by the Flemish Government and implemented in all universities. The Science Shop-project –which is part of science communication- is established in 2002. The project is an initiative to connect civil society organizations with research.  The VUB is in Belgium the pioneer for the Science Shops and not only runs the regional Science Shop for Brussels, but also coordinates the Flemish network of Science Shops. Since the start in 2001, the Science Shop Brussels has been cooperating with 250 civil society organizations and has delivered 165 research reports as an answer to questions coming from civil society organizations. From 2005 until April 2008, the Science Shop Brussels was involved in the successful EC Project TRAMS (013654) “Training and Mentoring of Science Shops”.

 

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Cyprus

European University Cyprus
 European University Cyprus was the first private higher educational institution to be established in Cyprus. The University operates a number of research centres and units, which among others include the Research Centre (RC), the Centre of Applied Research (CAR), the Foundation of Social and Political Studies and the Centre for the Study of Childhood and Adolescence. The EUC Research Centre (RC) is widely known in Cyprus and abroad due to its significant success in conducting innovative research, During the last five years, it has developed an intense action in a wide spectrum of socio-economic and humanistic areas through nationally and European-funded research programmes. EUC is the only Cypriot organisation who has managed to become partner in three ESFRI (European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures) projects, which are funded under the FP7 programme.

 

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Denmark

Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
The Science Shop at Technical University of Denmark (DTU) started in 1985 as the first Science Shop in Denmark. It is in the Department of Management Engineering and has three main objectives: To give citizen groups, who need advice on topics related to technology and society, access to the resources of the university; To contribute to the on-going renewal of the research and education profiles and strategies of the University, based on the knowledge needs of the citizen groups approaching the Science Shop; To give the students the opportunity to gain experience with project work and co-operation with citizens and citizens groups.
The two coordinators in the Science Shop are in the group Innovation and Sustainability. Most of the Science Shop projects are carried out by graduate students as part of their engineering education. The Science Shop supervises the co-operation between the citizen group, the students and the teacher. Some of the most popular topics during the recent years are climate strategies, urban planning and urban ecology, food and technology for disabled people. The Science Shop has initiated changes in the research agenda and the curricula at the university based on the knowledge needs from civil society and in co-operation with different university departments and has been involved in the transfer of experiences with the science shop concept to Brazil, Iceland, Malaysia Norway, South Africa and Spain.

 

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Estonia

Institute of Baltic Studies
The Institute of Baltic Studies (IBS) is an independent non-profit research and development centre that aims at assisting the development of public policy in the Baltic Sea region by providing high-quality socio-economic analysis. Institute’s mission statement stipulates that in addition to theoretical knowledge it must seek to provide practical inputs for various public and private initiatives. Connecting theory with practice is thus the underlying motto of the Institute. IBS main areas of expertise fall into two broad domains:
• science, technology and innovation policy, industrial economics and regional development
• social cohesion policies in the areas of labour, migration and development, immigrant integration and gender aspects
Over the years IBS has implemented tens of different projects together with government, academic, business and NGO type of organisations from all around the world (including over 10 EU funded framework projects). IBS’ regional partner network extends to more than 100 organisations.

 

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France

Foundation Citizen Science
Fondation Sciences Citoyennes (FSC) is a French NGO dedicated to the redistribution of research and expertise capacities to social movements. It was created in 2002 and unifies researchers from social and natural sciences, students, partners from civil society organisations and citizens. Sciences Citoyennes aims at supporting and prolonging the current movement of democratic and civil appropriation of science, in order to put it at the service of the common good.  Its objectives are:
• To increase the capacities of research and expertise of e civil society.
• To stimulate the freedom of expression and debates in the scientific world.
• To promote the democratic elaboration of scientific and technical choices.

FSC supports and organises public debates on public policies regarding research, technology and expertise. It publishes reports on science and society issues, is organiser of a yearly film festival on scientific and technological development evoking controversies in society and is actively involved in the elaboration process for FP7. FSC has campaigned through the European Science Social Forum (ESSF), an informal network of NGOs for another European Science policy. The ESSF sent a petition and amendments for FP7 to members of the European Parliament; it also participated at public conferences on FP7 in Brussels.

 

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Foundation for the Development of an Active Citizen Research (ADReCA)
ADReCA – Association pour le Développement d’une Recherche Citoyenne Active – is a civil society organisation (CSO) operating for the creation of an interface between civil society groups (CSOs, collectives, syndicates, …) and scientific institutions (universities, research organisms, …) in order to facilitate the production of scientific knowledge in response to civil society concerns. According to the Science Shop concept, diffusion of results, accessibility and comprehensibility for general public will be guaranteed. ADReCA has emerged in Grenoble from the convergence of actors of different horizons. In the context of doctoral (teaching) formation, public opinion surveys on the feasibility of creation of a Science Shop in Grenoble have been realised by interdisciplinary groups of students, one towards large public (2006), and another more specifically towards researchers (2007).
In 2007, the convergence of this student initiative with researchers and CSOs has led to the creation of ADReCA that is at present composed of 8 active members (students, PhDs, researchers, professors, politicians (region) and CSO members) and that is supported by the FSC (Fondation Sciences Citoyennes, France) and Living Knowledge (international Science Shop network).
One of our first actions was to organise a Scenario Workshop in 2007 bringing together civil society (CSOs) representatives, students, researchers and political actors in order to draw possible ways of collaboration and to define the functioning of the future Science Shop in Grenoble/Rhône-Alpes. Since 2 years, we have been building up contacts with the local CSO network and inside the University of Grenoble (students, scientists and teachers in charge of education) throughout different actions. We are about to set up collaborations in order to enter into the curriculum of students in sciences. Working with CSOs will be integrated in the students’ academic curriculum at different levels (including PhD studies) by valorisation in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

University of Lyon
UoL is a newly founded public body which groups together the 18 most important higher education institutions of  Lyon and Saint-Etienne. UoL has 120,000 students, 11 500 researchers and teachers-researchers, 5 000 PhDs, 230 laboratories. UoL is responsible for elaborating and enforcing the policy and activities of its members in transfer technology, postgraduate and postdoctoral studies, cooperation with research and other bodies, nationally and abroad. It shelters the Science &Society department, a Science Centre with a territorial mission, which conducts the science outreach activities of the University and enforces the national action plan for SiS.
The City Council, the conurbation of Lyon, as well as the Region of Rhône-Alpes are closely associated to the university (e.g. budget, policy), which makes UoL one of  the most integrated academic and local economic development tool nationwide.
UoL and its members are engaged in a wide range of cultural, educational and research EU pro-grammes (e.g. FPs, Erasmus, Leonardo). In particular, UoL shelters one ERAMORE desk. The University, through its Science & Society department),  is directly involved in 2 FP7/ Capacities/Science in Society projects, starting in 2009: CASC, SciCafé.

 

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Germany

Science Shop Bonn
Institutional profile: Established in 1984 as a registered non-profit organization the Wissenschaftsladen Bonn (Bonn Science Shop) wants to reduce the chasm between university & citizens. The work of the Bonn Science Shop gives special emphasis to the topics of civil society & sustainability, environment & health, as well as the labour market. When appropriate, the Bonn Science Shop cooperates with other institutions, organizations, Science Shops or stakeholders in Bonn as well as in Germany or on an international level to enable multidisciplinary research, dissemination of results and education. The Bonn Science Shop has a gender balanced 30 persons staff of whom 12 work in research and project contexts. All employees are actively involved in several networks on national or international level. The Bonn Science Shop also coordinates LIVING KNOWLEDGE (the international network of Science Shops).

The Bonn Science Shop participated from the very beginning in 1999, in the EU-supported projects SCIPAS (Study & Conference on Improving Public Access to Science through Science Shops), ISSNET (Improving Science Shop Networking), TRAMS (Training and mentoring of Science Shops) and CIPAST (Citizen Participation in Science and Technology.The Bonn Science Shop’s experts provide information not only in one-on-one consultations, through on-location measurements, press-releases, information brochures, lectures & other dissemination activities but also in professional-enhancement training.

 

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Wissenschafts- und Technologietransfer e.V. (WTT e.V.)
The Science Shop Zittau is founded in December 2006 and in charge of the university-related NGO WTT e.V. The aim always was and still is to become a meeting point for exchange and presentation of the scientific research of the local university institutions (Hochschule Zittau/Görlitz –University ofApplied Sciences and IHI International Graduate School Zittau) and the connected institutes and projects. We identify with the basic idea of European “science shops”, which means to support the interdisciplinarity of the agent’s projects and network formation as well as to make research & science transparent for public and to promote exchange between social participants like towns & municipalities, businesses & single persons and science. Present main focuses of the work of the science shop in Zittau:

      • self-employment (Gründerakademie and SIRE AG)
      • science and public (Public Understanding of Science), e.g. cooperation with the “Stadtentwicklungsgesellschaft GmbH Zittau” [Society of Urban Development Ltd. Zittau]
      • promotion of young people, school projects (invention centre)
      • cooperation with NGO like the “Umweltbibliothek Großhennersdorf” [environmental library] and the “Hillersche Villa Zittau”.

 

 

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Greece

The Technical University of Crete, established in 1984, has six departments, Management & Production Engineering, Mineral Resources Engineering, Electronic Engineering & Computer Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Architectural Engineering and Science, with fifty seven laboratories, all very well equipped with high technology infrastructure and well skilled personnel. There are 2500 undergraduate and 600 graduate students and 110 professors. With a total of 210 research and development programs and a budget approaching the amount of 19.000.000 €, the Technical University of Crete is among the top in Greece in performing research.

 

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Hungary

Environmental Social Science Research Group (ESSRG)
The ESSRG Ltd runs the first Hungarian Science Shop. The unit works in close cooperation with CSOs, implements co-operative researches with several actors in the Hungarian system of environmental social science research. ESSRG Ltd is advocating a multiple scientific perspective of Environmental Social Science which integrates natural and social sciences in analyzing and understanding the cultural, political and economic consequences and ethical aspects of environmental issues. ESSRG is committed to develop qualitative and quantitative social science research methods in connection with environmental sciences. ESSRG’s work is based on the strong involvement of stakeholders and concerned citizens; it has tested a broad array of participatory procedures and experimented with various methodological approaches. ESSRG aims to develop competencies, practical skills that are highly important for managing conflict intensive boundaries. Action research methods and community development, conflict management and mediation competencies constitute an integral part of capabilities and skills developed and cultivated by ESSRG. ESSRG Ltd. including the staff involved in this project, have rich experiences with EU-funded projects, especially with projects at the interface of Science and Society:
FP6: EFSUPS (2006-2008) – Exploring the Ground – Fostering Scientific Understanding in Primary Schools.
FP7: FAAN (2008-2010) – Facilitating Alternative Agro-Food Networks: Stakeholder Perspectives on Research Needs.

 

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Ireland

University of Cork
University College Cork is situated in south-west Ireland and was founded as a Queen’s College in 1845. The university has 16,000 full-time students. UCC’s diverse student-body includes 2,000 international students representing 80-plus countries worldwide. In addition, the university’s Centre for Adult Continuing Education has 2,000 students. 2,800 people work at UCC including more than 800 faculty. UCC is one of the leading research institutions in the State and its research income is consistently one of the highest in the country. The university offers a research-led curriculum that attracts the highest calibre of students. The university has over 120 degree and professional programmes given through some 60 departments.
The Department of Applied Social Studies is responsible for courses and research in social policy, social work and community development and youth work.  It also contributes to teaching in health, early childhood studies, government, environment and planning. The Department’s mission is ‘to provide an educational environment which promotes a culture of critical intellectual and practice enquiry in the social sciences based upon participation, inclusion and diversity’. This mission statement is underpinned by the objective of making equality an integral part of the intellectual, cultural, social and economic life of the University. The Department believes that quality is best achieved through the pursuit of equality, based upon the principles of lifelong learning and open access.  Many of its staff and students are engaged as active citizens in voluntary and community organisations, linking the department to civil society.  The Science shop at University College Cork was begun in 2006 in the Department of Applied Social Science and funded by Applied Social Studies Department.
The Biochemistry Department is also involved, since it supports the Science Shop idea. It has co-organised a workshop on the Science Shops, at UCC in 2008.

 

 

Dublin Institute of Technology
The Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) is the largest third level institution in Ireland. The Institute is a public-funded, autonomous higher education institution, and is also a member of the European University Association.
DIT is an autonomous institution with more than 20,000 students, enrolled on full and part-time programmes that range from apprenticeships and craft education through to PhD Level. DIT makes awards at higher certificate, ordinary Degree, Honours Degree, Master’s and PhD Levels. The programmes are career-focused with close links with industry at every level resulting in a very high success rate for our graduates in finding employment related to their field of study.
DIT has built an excellent reputation in Ireland and internationally in areas such as the arts and media, business and finance, engineering and science, architecture and planning, social sciences and law, tourism and food.
DIT has been involved in the European Framework Programmes since Framework 3 in the early 1980s. Most of the funded research projects in which DIT have been partners have focused on digital media, with more recent developments in biotechnology, nanotechnology, and environmental science. DIT is overall co-ordinator for a €5 million project funded through the European Sixth Framework programme to develop a prototype approach for effective e-access to city administration. The ICING project is managed from the Digital Media Centre in DIT. ICING will research a multi-modal, multi-access concept of e-Government.
In 1996 the Community Links Programme was set up in DIT to help in the alleviation of educational disadvantage at local, national and international levels. This is achieved through initiatives primarily directed at personal development including self-esteem, confidence,  motivation and empowerment of individuals and communities. The programmes are located in the primary, secondary, third level and communities sectors.
In 2005 DIT set up a centre for community-based learning. Now called Students Learning With Communities, it encompasses community-based learning and community-based research. There are over 20 modules currently being delivered in DIT involving students  learning with communities, at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, across all faculties, as well as individual research projects being undertaken by students. This programme is expanding every year, with over 120 community partners.

 

 

Dublin City University
Dublin City University (DCU) is Ireland’s newest university, founded in 1981, and has a strong record of social engagement, and of innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration in its teaching and research. The university’s strategic plan includes a Civic Engagement pillar, that includes off-campus course delivery for educationally disadvantaged communities, and the establishment of a science shop under the title, Community Knowledge Exchange.
DCU’s School of Communications is one of the largest such departments in Europe, with 700 students and 25 academic staff. It has built a strong profile of teaching and research in science communication and science-in-society. The school’s seven postgraduate programmes include a Masters in Science Communication. This Masters was one of the first of its kind in Europe when it was started in 1996, in association with Queens University Belfast. The Masters programme draws students from backgrounds in natural sciences and in humanities and social sciences. It encourages critical reflection on the place of science in society, as well as offering practical training in various aspects of communication. Related research in the School of Communications has included completed PhDs on public controversy over biotechnology and young people’s perceptions of genetic and reproductive technologies, and ongoing PhDs in bioscientists’ communication practices, and celebrity scientists.

 

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Israel

The Heschel Center for Environmental Learning and Leadership
The Heschel Center was established in 1999. It is a non-governmental organization dedicated to building a sustainable future for Israeli society. Its strategies include leadership development, education, working with government and non-governmental organization, and fostering activism and community-based projects across all sectors of Israeli society.
The Center fosters several programs. Key among these is the Environmental Fellows Program, which was established in 1999 and has since produced a network of over a hundred agents of change in academia, government, the non-governmental sector, education, politics, business and the media. The Center also hosts the Center for Local Sustainability, which aims to advance the capacity for sustainability in Israeli local government by raising awareness and providing training, tools, and support networks for agents of change to develop pilot projects in their communities. In addition, under the Sustainability Studies Program the Center, in cooperation with the Porter School for Environmental Studies at Tel-Aviv University, offers courses in the theory and practice of sustainability for target populations such as national government ministry executives, local government professionals, school principals and community centre managers. The Center also coordinates the Maof Seminar Program to promote networking among the leaders of environmental NGOs in Israel. In this capacity the Center functions as a facilitator and catalyst for the effective examination and formulation of ideas, goals and strategy.
Due to these and other programs the Heschel Center has established itself as a leading source of new and innovative ideas in the field of the environment and promoting sustainability. It has also established an extensive network of contacts in academia, NGOs, the government, education and the private sector.
The Heschel Centre is non-discriminatory and open to all Israeli citizens and their organisations, also Palestinian citizens of Israel; it has a Palestinian citizen of Israel on the board and at least one Palestinian citizen of Israel on each year of the fellows program (the Center’s key project). As further example, Heschel’s ‘Green Schools Network’ includes Arab schools (http://heschel.org.il/eng/schools) and the EU funded Local Sustainability Center, in which Heschel is a partner, states an inclusive vision and has a website translated into Arabic as well as English (http://www.kayamut.org.il)

 

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Italy

UNISS – Laboratorio FOIST
FOIST Laboratory for social policies and educational-training processes is a research and documentation centre within the Economy, Institution and Society Department (DEIS) of the University of Sassari (Sardinia, Italy).
It’s directed by sociology professor Alberto Merler since its foundation, back in 1977. It’s an operational structure open to both academic and non-academic users
FOIST’s main activities concern promoting and running theoretical and empirical research with a strong engagement in positive social intervention. The main non academic partners in recent FOIST activities have been non profit organisations, public institutions, schools, as well as informally organised groups of citizens.
The methodology used by FOIST in applied research actions builds upon background inquiring, evaluation, training, information and participation. The overall approach tends to conjugate research with the promotion of civic participation, solidarity building and community resources activation.
The most recent projects focussed on such subjects as: civic society, non-profit sector and social economy; participation to public decisions in rural areas (action research for the creation of a rural community school); local knowledge and community empowerment; social exclusion.
Main activities include: Implementation of Social Utility Services activities; Partnership with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs): scientific support, training and joint planning; Scientific support to Public Administrations’ social policies planning and implementation; Coordinating applied research projects based on needs arising from Civil Society; International partnership with other Universities and research centres; Training activities and dissemination; Coordination and organisation of International Conferences, Workshops and Seminars (Mediterranean Summer Schools on Sociological Theory and Method).

 

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Netherlands

Science Shop, University of Groningen
see PERARES project coordinator

 

 

Wageningen University
Wageningen University, part of Wageningen University and Research Centre (Wageningen UR), provides education and generates knowledge in the field of life sciences and natural resources. More than 5,600 staff and 8,500 students contribute actively to solving scientific and societal problems in close collaboration with governments, companies, stakeholder organisations, CSOs, and other knowledge institutions. Together with the Science Shop of Wageningen UR (SDLO) the following Wageningen University groups are involved:

      • the Chair of Regional Economics (part of the group Economics of Consumers and Households) is specialised in the field of rural and regional development, location theory, tourism and leisure.
      • the Chair Education and Competence Studies provides education and conducts research on the identification of competence needs, the design of competence-based education, the analysis of effects of competence-based learning and (social) learning at the interface between schools and community.
      • The Marketing and Consumer Behaviour Group (MCB) is involved because it has a research line on evaluation of public engagement activities.

 

Foundation Agricultural Research Services
Stichting DLO (Foundation Agricultural Research Services) is just as Wageningen University part of Wageningen University and Research Centre (Wageningen UR). Wageningen UR provides education and generates knowledge in the field of life sciences and natural resources. More than 5,600 staff and 8,500 students contribute actively to solving scientific and societal problems in close collaboration with governments, companies, stakeholder organisations, CSOs, and other knowledge institutions.
Together with the Wageningen University the Science Shop of Wageningen UR is involved in PERARES. Since 1985 the Science Shop acts as an intermediate between European CSOs and Wageningen UR research groups. It offers its services free of charge to CSOs lacking funds and to students and research staff interested in community based research subjects.

 

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Norway

University of Stavanger
University of Stavanger (UiS) has over 8000 students and 1200 administration, faculty and service staff. UiS is organised in three faculties; Arts and Education, Science and Technology and Social Sciences and has 34 bachelor-, 28 master- and 8 PhD programmes. Prioritised themes and areas are; Energy and Environment, Health and Welfare, Education and Learning, Culture, Tourism and Gastronomy. Department of Social Studies educates students in social work and child welfare on bachelor as well as master level.  The vision is to link research, practice and education and faculty and students carry out several research projects and Science Shop activities. However an explicit Science Shop is not organised (yet). Collaborating partners in the region are various welfare services (practitioners / service users) and CSOs. Students on bachelor- and master level are involved in suitable research activities, and relevant issues are fed into the curriculum, e.g. a master module in Community Based Research (CBR), in order to develop a research culture between education and society. The University of Stavanger (UiS) joins this initiative with a project for extending the contact between our research communities and the society around us. Therefore, also the Strategy and Communications Department participates. They are part of the central administration of the University. Counting some 13 employees, it is responsible for information strategy and press relations, news on the University website, an external publication, as well as student recruiting, career advice, and alumni services. The University of Stavanger home page, www.uis.no, was rated highest among the Norwegian universities in a recent survey, carried out by a government body (norge.no). UiS were second among all higher education institutions and the best public sector website in our county.
UiS is running a project called HUSK. This is a cooperation project between UiS researchers, social workers in the local community and users of social services, the latter offering valuable input into the research. Central issues for the HUSK project are prostitution and the rehabilitation of drug addicts, both of which have many strong interest groups who could participate. Previously, UiS has tried to establish a web-based “ask the researcher” service at The National Reading Centre, which is part of the university. After a promising start, the project became dormant, but could be revived during PERARES.

 

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Romania

InterMEDIU, Politehnica University of Bucharest
InterMEDIU Bucharest is a Science Shop founded in 2002, within a Matra program (2002-2005) with financial support of Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its staff consists of voluntary members (professors, assistants and students). The background of InterMEDIU staff is chemistry and chemical and environmental engineering. At present, InterMEDIU is self-financed, by means of projects and is member of the Romanian Science Shops network, INRO. As an interface between University and society, InterMEDIU Bucharest is active in the field environmental protection, education and support for the civil society offering to the civil society information, consultancy and research in the field of environmental protection. Also it organized programs of environmental education in schools, high-schools or universities, as well as for other community groups, in order to increase environmental awareness and offer to the students of Department of Environmental Protection, in cooperation with other members of academic staff, the possibility to gain experience in research projects, in cooperation with citizen groups, and to develop their practical oriented approach of envi-ronmental problems. In this regard, as recognition of its efforts and experience, InterMEDIU set up a training program in environmental protection, certified and financed by the Ministry of Education and Research, for high school teachers.

 

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Spain

Rovira i Virgili University, Tarragona (URV)
The Department of Pedagogy of Faculty of Education Sciences and Psychology at the Rovira i Virgili University has more than 50 professors and different groups of research, focused on different educational issues. Recently, this Department has organized the 2nd Congress “Education Today” which was open to civil society and practitioners of education.
The persons involved in PERARES are all members of CREA (Centre of Research in Theories and Practices that Overcome Inequalities), an inter-university research centre that carries out research projects contributing to the theoretical and practical development of the Social Sciences since 1991 (www.pcb.ub.es). CREA has been in charge of various projects which target dialogic processes between science and society. Among them we highlight the project Nano and older people: meetings between older people and scientific research. New strategies for social participation (Spanish Ministry for Work and Social Affairs. 2006-2008) and the project Opening the Science Park to the Neighbourhood, the project entitled Contemporary Science Communication: Science is close to participate (Spanish Ministry of Education and Science. 2004-2005) which are aimed at promoting dialogue between researchers and civil society thus establishing a two-way communication in order to improve the research process and the social value of its outcomes. This also focused on public debate about nanotechnology and nanoscience. CREA is also contributing to develop this dialogue at the European level, through their involvement as partner in the FP6 project TRAMS.
CREA has coordinated several RTD projects (both at national and European level) with advisory councils and multicultural and interdisciplinary teams, showing that it is possible to guarantee the social utility of research and its connection with the end-users needs and demands, as well as to improve scientific excellence. CREA research is focused on social inclusion and cohesion, with a wide experience in FP4, FP5 and FP6. It should be highlighted the coordination of some projects as WORKALÓ. The creation of new occupational patterns for cultural minorities (FP5) and currently this centre of research is coordinating the integrated project INCLUD-ED. Strategies for inclusion and social cohesion in Europe from education (FP6).

 

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UK

Science Shop at Queens University Belfast
Founded in 1845, Queen’s University Belfast has more than 25,000 postgraduate and undergraduate students and 3,500 staff.  It is part of the Russell Group of the top 20 research intensive universities in the UK.  Queen’s is committed to making a contribution to the wider community, both in Northern Ireland and internationally and has put in place a Community Strategy to ensure that this key aim is achieved.
The Science Shop at Queen’s University was founded in 1988 and supports students to carry out research on behalf of voluntary and community groups across Northern Ireland in partnership with University of Ulster.  Principle areas of work include social and environmental sciences.  Staff work with community and voluntary organisations to help them develop research questions and issues which can then be fed into the curriculum.

 

University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is ranked highly in the world for its research achievements in science and technology, as well as arts, humanities and social sciences. In the Shanghai Jiaotong University World Rankings 2007, Cambridge is ranked 4th.
In the Office of External Affairs and Communications at the University of Cambridge, the Community Affairs team co-ordinates several major projects which engage the public with re-search. These include:
- The Cambridge Science Festival, the UK’s largest free science festival which offers over 150 events for all ages to generate interest in science and technology during National Science and Engineering Week each March. It reaches 30,000 visitors each year. There are talks and discussions on the social and ethical dimensions of science, tours into laboratories, hands-on experiments for young people, and visits by scientists to over 50 schools. Over 40 scientific departments, institutes and partners take part in the Science Festival and up to 1,000 staff and students volunteer.
- The Cambridge Festival of Ideas, which was launched in October 2008 and engages the public with research in the arts, humanities and social sciences. It offered 200 events, most of them free, which included a public debate on the limits to European integration, attended by 150 members of the public and made available as an audio podcast on our website, www.festivalofideas.org, featuring Vince Cable MP, Michael Howard MP and Stephen Wall. There were also debates on: ‘What good are the arts?’ and ‘Press freedom in the Internet age’ as well as talks by authors, open days in departments and insights into different cultures
- A training programme for PhD students and early-career researchers in engaging the public with research, called ‘Rising Stars’
- A new Cambridge Community Knowledge Exchange, www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/communications/community/knowledge/
promotes the opportunity for CSOs to contact the University of Cambridge with possible research questions in engineering, geography, sociology, IT and business and we will seek students to conduct research as part of their studies. This initiative launched in October 2008, and the first partnership is between the CSO Cambridge Women’s Aid and the University’s Department of Sociology.

 

University of Newcastle
University of Newcastle upon Tyne is a civic university with a mission to be a world-class research- intensive university, to deliver teaching and facilitate learning of the highest quality and to play a leading role in the economic, social and cultural development of the North East of England. In PERARES, staff of the School of Agriulture, Food & Rural Development is involved.

 

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