Kavli Centre for Ethics, Science, and the Public

Kavli Centre for Ethics, Science, and the Public

University of Cambridge, UK: Enabling global conversations on the ethical issues raised by cutting-edge science.

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About the Centre

Major scientific breakthroughs deepen our understanding of nature and ourselves. Such discoveries have the potential to transform our everyday lives. Yet the same science that holds promise for progress often raises concerns and questions for society.

We enable global conversations on the ethical issues raised by discovery science by conducting public engagement at the early stages of scientific discovery. This empowers scientists to consider and navigate ethical and societal concerns. We specialise in creating the conditions for conversations between scientists and members of the public.

Our aims

The Kavli Centre for Ethics, Science, and the Public aims to have a positive impact on both science and society because we:

  • Conduct public engagement at early stages of scientific discovery
  • Enhance and evolve societal awareness of discovery ethics of science globally, including diverse communities
  • Empower scientists to consider and navigate ethical and societal concerns
  • Enable the inclusion of societal perspectives as part of research and policy development
Film the leadership team submitted to the Kavli Foundation as part of our pitch for funding

Recognising that both ‘the public’ and ‘scientists’ are mixed groups with many communities, values and interests, the Kavli Centre pursues new ways to build communication bridges between….

  • Public audiences
  • Scientists
  • Public engagement and communication professionals
  • Ethicists
  • Social scientists
  • Community groups
  • Health Professionals

The Kavli Centre delivers its research and engagement strategy….

  • By facilitating encounters between members of the public and scientists to discuss and deliberate on the societal and ethical questions associated with science
  • By researching new approaches of engaging scientific and public audiences in discussions on the ethics of science
  • By understanding what shapes scientists’ and publics’ awareness of, and the ability to act on, the ethical issues associated with discovery science
  • By empowering scientists to evolve how they do science

[header image credit: Daniel Lonn, Unsplash]