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.
Watch the launch film for both our centre in Cambridge, UK, and our sister centre in Berkeley, CA, here:
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
Watch our pitch film submitted to the Kavli Foundation here:
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
How should we think about science, ethics and society? A big thank you to these volunteers from around the world who shared their views with us:
