Neuroscience and Society: Supporting and Unsettling Public Engagement

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience and Society
• Science Policy
• Bioethics

Background:

• Advancing neuroscience presents the

Purpose of the Study:

• To launch a scholarly series on the ethical and social issues in neuroscience.
• To promote deliberative public engagement with complex scientific topics.

Main Methods:

• Publication of scholarly essays and articles.
• Support from the Dana Foundation.
• Focus on ethical and social dimensions of neuroscience research.

Main Results:

• Initiation of the "Neuroscience and Society" series.
• Highlighting the challenge of aligning science policy with public values.
• Emphasizing the need for broad public engagement.

Conclusions:

• Scholarly writing can contribute to meaningful public engagement on neuroscience.
• Deliberative engagement requires multiple actors and locations.
• Addressing the alignment problem is crucial for responsive science policy.