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How can we transform the way scientists, practitioners, and the public engage with the ethical dimensions of cutting-edge research? The Creativity for Scientific Change (CSC) project is addressing this question with two key shifts: a focus on discovery over applied science and a commitment to reciprocal exchange—not just bringing the public closer to science, but also bringing scientists closer to the public.
Inspired by socially engaged art and participatory design, the CSC project reimagines science engagement with the ethics of science as a dynamic and inclusive three-way collaboration between scientists, creatives, and the public. Moving beyond the traditional one-way model – where science is “delivered” to the public – the project seeks to create a space where every voice is valued equally. Together, these collaborators co-produce tangible outcomes that address urgent socio-ethical questions arising from research. The goal? To build empowered communities equipped with new relationships, insights, and skills to shape the future of science and society.
From applied to discovery science
It’s often assumed that the ethical implications of research emerge only after a technology is introduced into society. As a result, most public engagement focuses on applied science, where research addresses immediate problems or has clear, practical uses. While this approach has successfully raised awareness, it tends to centre around easing public concerns or building trust once controversies arise. Discovery science, on the other hand, rarely enters public conversations. Without immediate applications or defined audiences, it can be harder to communicate its importance or anticipate the implications. Yet, discovery science – for example in artificial intelligence or stem cell research – is precisely where many socio-ethical questions first emerge. By drawing on methods and insights from sociology and Science and Technology Studies (STS), the CSC project seeks to uncover where these considerations arise, how they evolve, and why they sometimes fade away. The goal is to reveal the often-hidden lifecycle of ethical challenges in discovery science, bringing them to light and engaging the public in meaningful conversations about their implications.
From communication to co-production
Engagement activities have often relied on one-way communication: delivering scientific findings to the public, usually at the end of the research process. While this has increased public understanding of science, it has left little room for the public to influence the direction of research or for scientists to meaningfully address public concerns. By collaborating with creative practitioners, the CSC project invites the public into the heart of scientific discovery. Creatives interpret complex ethical questions into thought-provoking artworks, working alongside scientists and the public to foster dialogue and shared exploration. This process doesn’t just inform or educate but seeks to inspire scientists to consider the broader socio-ethical implications of their research, opening new possibilities for how science is done in the lab.
Why This Matters
The CSC project is more than a new way of communicating science—it’s a call to rethink the relationship between science and society. What if scientists could embed socio-ethical reflection into their work, not as a procedural task, but as a vital and transformative part of the research process? How might this change both the nature of discovery and science’s role in society?
[Image credit: Girl with Red Hat, Unsplash]