Monday, November 28, 2005

Sense About Science

Go to the organization's website.

Promoting an evidence-based approach to scientific issues.

Sense About Science is an independent charitable trust seeking to respond to the misrepresentation of science and scientific evidence on issues that matter to society. It does this by promoting respect for evidence and by urging scientists to engage actively with a wide range of groups, particularly when debates are controversial or difficult.

Current and future projects focus on:
* Understanding the peer review process for scientific research results. The discussion paper a Working Party, 'Peer Review and the Acceptance of New Scientific Ideas' (June 2004) is available in printed form or as a pdf, as is a 'Short Guide to Peer Review'.
* The Voice of Young Science: introducing younger scientists, in the early stages of their careers, to the media.
* 'State of the Debate' briefings on: endocrine disruption; childhood nutrition; radiodiagnostics; and public-good plant breeding.
* A review of precautionary governance and its implications for the evidence-based approach.
* Sense About Science also currently promotes engagement with evidence and scientific research in relation to: nuclear power and waste; public fear of chemicals; stem cell research; genetic modification; mobile phone emissions; the combined Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) vaccine; the use of animals in scientific procedures; and assessments of public attitudes to new technologies.

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