WP 3 City Models Study

Cities of Scientific Culture

Tim CaultonAgnes Allansdottir

PLACES Conference23 September 2011

Study Objective

The primary objective of this research is to capture, in a systematic and methodologically sound manner, the defining characteristics of cities of scientific culture across Europe.

The report of the study will be a key building block for the Local Actions Plans that will be developed as a part of WP4

Research Questions

What are the major drivers for the development of cities of scientific culture?

Who are the main actors? How are activities organised and funded? What is the impact of the diversity of

different parts of Europe? What do respondents themselves make of

the term cities of scientific culture?

Methodology

Identify around 20 cities that would be interesting cases for the study

Identify and established contacts with five actors in each, aiming to construct a pool of around 100 respondents

Design web based survey Invitations were sent out to

contacts by email Numerous reminders!

Participating Cities Aarhus, DK A Coruna, ES Barcelona, ES Birmingham, UK Bristol, UK Copenhagen, DK Debrecen, HU Dublin, IE Espoo, FI Gothenburg, SE Glasgow, UK Helsinki, FI Jena, DE Lisbon, PT Liverpool, UK Lyon, FR

Magdeburg, DE Murcia, ES Naples, IT Newcastle, UK Nottingham, UK Paris, FR Prague, CZ Rome, IT Trento, IT Trieste, IT Turin, IT Vienna, AU Wroclaw, PL York, UK

Shanghai for a non EU comparator

Findings and Results What have been and will be the main drivers? Who have been and will be the main actors? What have been and will be the main activities? Public participation now and in the future What form of organisation now and in the future? Funds and sources of funding Past and future challenges to cities of scientific

culture

Drivers

Actors

Activities

Public Participation

Organisation

Funding

Sources of Funding

Challenges

Visions for Cities of Scientific CultureThe survey included an open ended question in the LOOKING AHEAD TO 2020 section, asking respondents to describe their vision of a city of scientific culture in the future. The responses were extremely detailed and well articulated.

Visions for Cities of Scientific CultureSome patterns emerge from the material collected, for example: In general, cities of scientific culture are seen as important

drivers both for the local economy and civil society more generally

The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) agenda in the UK has clearly had a significant impact there and is also referred to in other parts of Europe

Science is culture appears to be the prevalent framing in countries where the dominant language is derived from Latin, such as France and Italy

The results indicate the importance of an inclusive European dialogue over what scientific culture means

Conclusions

1. Science cultural activities appear to be thriving in the cities or regions that participated in this study

2. Citizens’ participation and public consultation exercises are clearly considered the road ahead to 2020

3. Growing awareness of the importance of the private sector in cities of scientific culture presents an interesting challenge for actors engaged in science in society activities

4. The visions of 2020 emphasise the interaction between the local/regional and the European level

Conclusions

5. Strong expectations towards the EU to contribute to setting the agenda

6. Cultures of science seem to have diverse semantic connotations across the cultural zones of Europe

7. The results strongly suggest that efforts should be made to reinforce the European-wide inclusive dialogue over what constitutes European cultures of science and how to harness the potential for responsible and sustainable innovation in Europe

Thank you very much for your attention and patience!

Agnes Allansdottir agneseir@gmail.comTim Caulton tc@museumintelligence.com