Science-society dialogue from the start: Participatory research agenda-setting by Science Caf\xe9s

Bálint Balázs,Janka Horváth,György Pataki

doi:10.1186/s40309-020-00164-x

Abstract

This empirical paper presents a case of a participatory agenda-setting exercise for green care services in Hungary. Science Cafés were utilised as a participatory agenda-setting tool within the framework of the InSPIRES H2020 project. The objectives were to collect perceptions of research needs from key actors in the green care field in Hungary, to generate collaborative research projects on green care services and to initiate social dialogue around green care in Hungary. The main research question was as follows: how can we co-create a research agenda on green care by eliciting responses from concerned citizens and experts in a very open and democratic setting? While a growing body of evidence supports the need for, and benefits of, green care services, there is not much research in Hungary addressing diverse knowledge needs of the multiple social actors in the green care field. Science Café as developed for institutionalising an informal and lively dialogue between science and society proved to be a useful tool to co-generate a research agenda for such a relatively neglected but socially highly beneficial theme as green care.

Highlights

The role of science in society has recently emerged as an ‘old-new’ topic in the European science, research and innovation context
We identified four critical levels, adapted from the work of Bragg et al [7], in which a person can interact with nature: (a) nature as part of everyday life; (b) places and activities in the natural environment experienced as part of health promotion; (c) nature engagement activities as tools of fostering nature connection and ecological thinking; and (d) green care services as personally tailored, therapeutic interventions for people with defined needs
Green care as a preventive and/or therapeutic potential of nature is rarely present as a prescribed intervention for patients in healthcare

Summary

Introduction

The role of science in society has recently emerged as an ‘old-new’ topic in the European science, research and innovation context. Several converging mechanisms of science-society-policy interactions, transdisciplinary and public engagement activities (e.g. action research, participatory research, science café, science shop, citizen science, OS, RRI, social innovation) run parallel in today’s science environment. This warrants the need to revisit opportunities for the renewal that Science Cafés can offer in the changing landscapes of scientific culture. Participatory research agenda-setting: our process In 2014, our team organised the first platform event on care farming with advocates and practitioners, an antecedent to the research project This forum provided an open space for joint evaluation of the state of the art in Hungary, sharing best practice examples and previous experiences. We gathered critical statements on research needs by experts and citizens as

Methodology applied

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Conclusion