Class Central is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Achieving public dialogue

The Open University via OpenLearn

Go to class Write review

Details

Go to class

Provider

OpenLearn
Pricing

Free Certificate
Languages

English
Certificate

Certificate Available
Effort

16 hours
Sessions

Self-Paced
Level

Advanced

Found in

Build with Azure OpenAI, Copilot Studio & Agentic Frameworks — Microsoft Certified

Learn More →

The Fastest Way to Become a Backend Developer Online

Learn More →

Overview

Google, IBM & Meta Certificates – 40% Off

One plan covers every Professional Certificate on Coursera.

Unlock All Certificates

There are a wide range of interactions between 'science' and 'the public'. Examples range from visiting a museum, or indulging in a science-related hobby, to reading a newspaper article about a breakthrough in the techniques of therapeutic cloning. Many of these interactions could be said to be 'passive'. This free course, Achieving public dialogue, explores the practicalities of the public becoming more 'active' in the direction of science practice by 'two-way' interactions, with dialogue taking place between science and some part of 'the public'.

Syllabus

Introduction
Learning outcomes
1 How did the notion of public dialogue arise?
1 How did the notion of public dialogue arise?
2 What should dialogue with the public aim to achieve?
2 What should dialogue with the public aim to achieve?
3 Consensus conferences
3 Consensus conferences
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Public consultation vs public engagement
3.3 The consensus conference concept
3.4 Consensus conference on plant biotechnology
3.5 Consensus conference on radioactive waste
3.6 How valuable have consensus conferences proved to be?
4 The GM Nation? debate
4 The GM Nation? debate
5 How might dialogue move on from GM Nation?
5 How might dialogue move on from GM Nation?
6 DEMOCS: ‘The game to play to have your say’
6 DEMOCS: ‘The game to play to have your say’
6.1 Introduction
6.2 How DEMOCS works
6.3 Some issues for consideration
7 Final thoughts
7 Final thoughts
Conclusion
References
Acknowledgements

Reviews

5.0 rating, based on 1 Class Central review

3.3 rating at OpenLearn based on 3 ratings

Start your review of Achieving public dialogue

Enrique Enriquez @EEnriquez
22

Having completed The Open University's "Achieving Public Dialogue" course, I found it to be an intellectually rigorous examination of the evolution from the deficit model of public understanding of science towards more meaningful, two-way engagement. The course accurately presented its content, providing a critical overview of mechanisms like consensus conferences, the GM Nation? debate, and innovative tools such as DEMOCS. The time commitment was as stated, and the certificate of participation provides formal recognition of this professional development.