valuing engaged science
by Jack Stilgoe
The AS have a great system of involving those who care for Alzheimer's patients in decisions about science. This has had a few beneficial effects. It eases the carers' burden of dealing with the disease, it engages them in trusting relationships with doctors and scientists, it prompts new areas of research and it reconnects scientists with their original motivations. This form of public engagement has also given the AS a unique voice in debates of public importance, such as with the recent tussle with NICE over Alzheimer's drugs. What it has not done, and here I agree with Prof Lord W, is tell us how other chartities, research funders and companies should do public engagement. All we are saying in the pamphlet is that what they do works for them. And it works for them because new questions are being asked and new people are getting involved. The challenge now is to work out how to build public value in other scientific settings.