Sense About Science
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| Motto | Because evidence matters |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2013 |
| Founder | Lord Taverne |
| Type | Charitable Trust No.1146170 |
| Location | |
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Area served
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England and Wales |
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Key people
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Tracey Brown (Director) |
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Revenue
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£576,265 (2016)  2.3% from 2015 |
|
Employees
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9 (as of 2016) |
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Volunteers
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40 (as of 2016) |
| Mission | An independent campaigning charity that challenges the misrepresentation of science and evidence in public life. |
| Website | senseaboutscience.org |
Sense about Science is a UK charity that promotes the public understanding of science. Sense about Science was founded in 2002 by Lord Taverne, Bridget Ogilvie and others to promote respect for scientific evidence and good science. Sense about Science was established as a charitable trust in 2003, with 14 trustees, an advisory council and a small office staff. Tracey Brown has been the director since 2002.
Sense about Science aims to work with scientists, journalists and others to ensure that scientific evidence is at the forefront of public discussions about science, and to correct unscientific misinformation. They encourage and assist scientists to engage in public debates about their area of expertise, to respond to scientifically inaccurate claims in the media, to help people contact scientists with appropriate expertise, and to prepare briefings about the scientific background to issues of public concern.
Sense about Science publishes guides to different areas of science in partnership with experts. These include: Making Sense of Uncertainty, Making Sense of Allergies, Making Sense of Drug Safety Science, Making Sense of Crime, Making Sense of Statistics, Making Sense of Screening and Making Sense of GM.
Sense about Science maintains database of over 6,000 UK scientists willing to use their expertise to help inform public debate. It also runs the Voice of Young Science programme to help early career scientists engage in public debates. Sense About Science hosts an annual lecture.
Since its founding, Sense about Science has contributed to UK public debates about such subjects as alternative medicine, "detoxification" products and detox diets, genetically modified food, avian influenza, chemicals and health, "electrosmog", vaccination, weather and climate, nuclear power, and the use and utility of peer review. Sense about Science encourages scientists to explain to the public the value of peer review in determining which reports should be taken seriously. Director Tracey Brown describes such critical thinking as crucial to preventing public health scares based on unpublished information.
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