organisation - the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência

Scientists Attitudes to the Use of Animals in Research
Working from the premise that knowledge of the scientific community's
attitudes towards animal research, and towards communicating this type of
research to the public and policy-makers should underlie any public engagement
programme, we have carried out a questionnaire-based survey of the
biomedical research community in Portugal. Data from the sample of 598
valid questionnaires, from 45 biomedical research institutes, is being analysed
for correlations between scientists’ experience with animal research
and their attitudes to regulation, practice and public engagement around
this issue.
Collaborators: IBMC (Porto), Observa (Italy)
Gripenet (Since 2009, part of the FP7-funded project, Epiwork)
Gripenet is a syndromic surveillance system that monitors the activity of
influenza-like-illness (ILI), in near-real time, with the help of volunteers, via
internet-based questionnaires about flu symptoms. The system includes a
broad range of science communication and education activities. In 2011,
Gripenet developed an online application for children (aged 6 to 12), that
allows data collection from this age group and from parents. Gripenet also
organised a schools cartoon competition.
Social Networks and New Media
Between June and December 2011, the IGC website received 429,109 visits
(average of 1,756 visits per day). In 2011 we continued to use new media
and social networking to communicate effectively with broad audiences, by
providing regular updates on research developments and outreach, in both
English and Portuguese:
• Facebook (9,277 fans as of December 2011)
• Twitter (around 1200 followers as of December 2011)
• YouTube (16 movies, around 23,000 views as of December 2011)
Teachers from two primary schools in Oeiras receive training to apply enquirybased
science learning with their students, in the Aqui há Ciência project.
IGC ANNUAL REPORT ‘11
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN SCIENCE
168