Sense About Science

Sense About Science

Sense About Science is a London-based charitable organization founded in 2002 that promotes public understanding of evidence and scientific integrity. It engages with the media, policy makers, researchers, and the public to challenge misinformation and to encourage accurate use of evidence in public debate. The organisation has worked alongside scientific bodies, academic institutions, and professional societies across the United Kingdom and internationally.

History

Sense About Science was established in the early 21st century by a group of scientists and communicators including Colin Blakemore and Gillian R. Thomas, following earlier initiatives to address public controversies around scientific issues. The organisation emerged amid debates involving institutions such as the Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council, Royal Society, University of Oxford, and Imperial College London, and in the context of public controversies that included disputes touching on biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and environmental health where actors like GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, and regulatory agencies such as the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency were prominent. Early supporters and interlocutors included editorial figures from outlets like the Guardian and the Times, science communicators associated with the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum, London, and research funders such as the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Mission and Activities

Sense About Science states a mission to promote evidence in public life and to improve how evidence is used by media, policy makers, and the public. It conducts training and workshops for researchers from institutions including the University of Cambridge, University College London, and the London School of Economics and provides guidance for journalists at outlets like the BBC and the Financial Times. Activities include responding to contested claims alongside professional bodies such as the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Physicians, and the Academy of Medical Sciences, and collaborating with charitable partners like the Wellcome Trust and Nesta. The organisation interfaces with international actors such as the World Health Organization, the European Commission, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on issues of scientific integrity and public communication.

Campaigns and Publications

Sense About Science has run campaigns and produced guides addressing public controversies where institutions and figures such as Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, and regulatory bodies including the European Medicines Agency have had roles. Publications have included lay guides and toolkits distributed to researchers at universities like the University of Edinburgh and journals including Nature, Science, and the Lancet. Campaigns have focused on evidence standards in litigation involving companies such as Monsanto and on media accuracy in coverage related to climate issues involving parties like Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change contributors, energy companies such as BP and Shell, and environmental NGOs like Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth. The organisation has produced briefing papers for parliamentary committees including the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee and contributed to consultations by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department of Health and Social Care.

Governance and Funding

Sense About Science operates as a registered charity with governance structures involving trustees drawn from academic and professional circles, including affiliations with the Royal Society of Chemistry, the British Academy, and the Wellcome Trust. Its funding has been reported to include income from charitable foundations such as the Wellcome Trust and corporate philanthropy from firms in the pharmaceutical and technology sectors including GlaxoSmithKline and technology companies active in the UK market. It has received grants and project support involving institutions such as the European Research Council and collaborations with research councils including the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Governance reviews and discussions have referenced oversight norms associated with the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

Impact and Criticism

Advocates credit Sense About Science with improving media literacy, supporting researchers to respond to public misrepresentation, and contributing to policy discussions in forums including the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee and international dialogues with the World Health Organization. The organisation’s campaigns and guides have been cited in academic contexts at universities such as King's College London, University of Manchester, and University of Glasgow and in commentary in outlets including the Spectator and New Scientist. Critics and commentators have raised questions about perceived proximity to corporate funders and the potential influence of donors linked to sectors including pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and energy, citing examples involving companies like Bayer and Monsanto and prompting debate in forums such as the Commons Select Committee and academic journals including BMJ. Debates have involved scholars from institutions such as the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and policy analysts associated with think tanks like the Institute for Public Policy Research and the Adam Smith Institute.

Category:Charities based in the United Kingdom