Science in Society Dialogues: On the roles of scientists in the public arena

Are you a scientist that is helping to improve existing systems step by step, or do you want to help replace current systems? Are you passionate, maybe even activistic? Or do you keep your distance and see yourself more as a ‘pure scientist’ or an ‘honest broker’, objectively providing facts and scenarios? How do you relate to partners (industry, NGOs, government) who may have interests? As a scientist, how do you deal with your own personal values and opinions? Are you fully aware of the potential impact of your contribution in societal debates?

What to expect?

In this dialogue series, we want to look at the various roles that individual scientists can, should and want to fulfil. And how do our stakeholders, partners and the public actually view the role of scientists for society? What do they expect? What wishes and needs do they have?