Chapter 4 Science and Technology to Be Supported by Society and the Public

1. Responsible measures to be taken to resolve ethical, legal, or social problems caused by Science and Technology
        Rapidly advancing Science and Technology are coming to greatly influence social issues including legal and ethical issues such as: bioethical issues including human cloning technology; anxiety about genetically engineered foods; concerns about the misuse of personal information; and ethical issues for researchers including those who forge experimental data. In order to achieve social trust in Science and Technology, the government and research communities will draw up, through open processes, a set of rules in consideration of global trends, while encouraging science and technology researchers to conduct R&D activities in compliance with those rules. In particular, as well as promoting comprehensive and strategic review and study on the impact that nanotechnology has on society, they will enhance measures to resolve bioethical issues that have been growing rapidly in close relation with society.
        In the formulation of those rules, the Council for Science and Technology Policy will be involved in the creation of the basic rules, with foresight and in cooperation with the relevant ministries and agencies. The Science Council of Japan, as an organization representing the Japanese research community, will also contribute to making the rules. In addition, in order to establish the ethics of researchers and engineers, we will encourage universities and other educational institutions to build education systems, and academic societies to develop training systems and formulate ethical guidelines.
        Science and Technology activities for risk assessment, such as safety assessment, the devisal of test methods, and the collection, arrangement, and analysis of data, are important to rationally implement the risk control required to return the Science and Technology results to society.
        The activities for creating social consensus based on the results of scientific risk assessment are essential for the public to feel security. The government will support these activities.
   
   
2. Accountability relating to Science and Technology and the improvement of information provision
        Returning Science and Technology results to the public with clear explanations is fundamental in achieving people's support for Science and Technology. Practical policy goals mentioned in Chapter 1 are the basis of strengthening of accountability for people for Science and Technology. The Council for Science and Technology Policy will follow up the progress which each of the ministries and agencies makes for accomplishment of the goals, as well as provide society and the public with relevant information.
        The basic responsibilities of research institutions and researchers are to disclose their research activities as much as possible and explain the details and results clearly to society. In the course of fulfilling their responsibilities, those research institutions and researchers are expected to use diverse media effectively and efficiently.
        We will promote outreach activities that aim for the sharing of public needs among researchers through interactive communication between researchers and the public. Therefore, we will create and adopt a mechanism in the competitive fund system to ensure a certain amount of expenditure for outreach activities.
   
   
3. Improving the public awareness of Science and Technology
        In order to increase public interest in Science and Technology, it is important to improve adults' knowledge and ability (Science and Technology literacy) relating to Science and Technology, as well as enrich science and mathematics education in elementary and secondary education. Therefore, we will formulate and widely spread the vision of Science and Technology literacy (a document clearly explaining the knowledge, technology, and views relating to Science and Technology). We also need to implement new methods for the merging of Science and Technology, culture, and the arts, so that society and the public may gain a deeper understanding and awareness of Science and Technology.
        Furthermore, we will increase the opportunities for all the public from infants to the elderly to come into contact with, experience, and learn about Science and Technology. More specifically, we will enhance the National Science Museum, the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan), and other museums, while promoting the development and securing of employees who support their activities, science volunteers, and NPO employees. In addition, we will promote the contributions of universities and public research institutions to the improvement of the people's awareness of S&T through social activities such as opening to the public of their facilities and equipment and lectures on demand. The government will also provide the public with an opportunity to experience the dream and excitement of Science and Technology through a variety of competitions and events.
   
   
4. Promoting proactive participation of the public in Science and Technology
        The active participation of the public in S&T as well as the approaches of Science and Technology toward the public are essential for increasing the people's understanding and support for Science and Technology. Therefore, we will enhance measures to encourage the public to participate in Science and Technology proactively. More specifically, measures will be taken to encourage ministries and agencies to actively disclose the basic plan, and research details and progress of the R&D project which may have a large impact on society and raise public interest extensively, as well as to encourage them to reflect the feedback obtained as a result of the disclosure to the public.