To strengthen our extensive public opinion research and support work towards creating a society-centred vision for R&D, CaSE commissioned a deeper exploration of the public’s views through a public dialogue focused on society’s stake in R&D. This was delivered by the National Centre for Social Research and the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement.
People’s Vision for R&D: A public dialogue
The first step towards a stronger relationship between the public and the R&D community is to understand where we are starting from. Do people feel any ownership or agency in R&D; do they feel they have a voice or influence? And would they want more of these opportunities?
The design of the public dialogue, delivered by NatCen and NCCPE, was informed by widespread consultation with the R&D sector. This included workshops with more than 50 organisations across the UK and advice from an expert group convened for this project. We refined the scope of the project from a broad question about the complex concepts of agency and ownership of R&D, to a more focused question: How do the public feel about increased opportunities for public decision-making about, and involvement in, R&D?
This allowed an effective dialogue that focused on two aspects that we believe will support a stronger connection between the public and the R&D system:
- The public’s emotional connection to R&D, which can offer a route towards a greater sense of ownership
- Ways the public can be involved in R&D, whether through shared decision-making or participation in R&D itself, which can offer a route towards a greater sense of agency
Participants took part in ten hours of dialogue across four online sessions in May 2024, hearing from subject specialists and being provided with information on how the public can influence decisions about R&D and be involved in all stages of research itself. They then iteratively developed a set of People’s Principles for Involvement in R&D, which describe how the public can be meaningfully and purposefully involved in R&D.
Hear about the project from the participants and the team who delivered the work
Project timeline

Key findings
People's Vision for R&D: Reports
CaSE has produced a separate report reflecting on the People’s Vision for R&D public dialogue and offering recommendations for those working in R&D to help further embed involvement as one route to a stronger, long-lasting relationship with the public.
The National Centre for Social Research delivered the public dialogue exercise, supported by the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement. The full report on the dialogue and its findings can be found here, along with detailed methods and NCCPE’s review of People’s Principles against existing standards and frameworks.
CaSE’s project lead Rebecca Hill reflects on what CaSE has learned from the People’s Vision for R&D public dialogue and what this means for R&D advocates.
To support the public dialogue, CaSE held five workshops across the UK bringing together 50 organisations from across the R&D sector to gather perspectives of the benefits of – and the barriers to – increasing public involvement and engagement in R&D.
To help CaSE successfully deliver the project, we are being advised by a group of experts drawn from across the research system. Meet the group here.
The public dialogue exercise was officially launched in November 2023. You can read the announcement here.
In August, we tendered for a supplier to deliver the public dialogue exercise. You can read the archived request for proposals here.