Contents this month
DbyD at conferences and events
Forum for the Future's Reconnections Programme
Among the events we facilitated this month was Forum for the Future's
Reconnections Programme. This week-long event, held in the depths
of the Lake District, brings together people from the public, private
and voluntary sectors for a week of reflection, discussion and activity.
The over-arching theme is sustainable development and its many dimensions.
There were keynote presentations from leading thinkers in several
fields: Jonathon Porritt on the current situation of the world and
the looming crises it faces; Susan Canney presented a fascinating
picture of the world and its natural systems from a Gaian perspective;
the philosopher Kate Rawles looked at ethics and values; and Ian
Christie addressed the social justice aspects of sustainable development.
In between these formal sessions and the heated discussions they
provoked there was a canoe trip across Coniston Water, a visit to
John Ruskin's house and Grizedale Forest Sculpture Park, and numerous,
if damp, local walks. Andrew Acland says that facilitating
such an event feels more like a privilege than a job.
Details of next year's Reconnections are not yet available, but
for more information about this recent event go to http://www.forumforthefuture.org.uk/news/reconnections2006_page309.aspx
or e-mail Andrew Acland at [email protected].
University of the West of England's MSc course in Science
Communication
Amy Sanders was guest speaker at the University
of the West of England's MSc course in Science Communication. As
part of the students' unit: “Science direct in practise”
- designed to take students through the process of designing
their own science communication initiative - Amy presented
the “DbyD approach to designing and running engagement processes”
using case studies illustrating the range of techniques that Dialogue
by Design uses. Following a lively discussion, the students then
spent the afternoon designing their own process to seek views on
future health issues and generate some excellent, innovative ideas.
Public Consultation and Stakeholder Engagement: Two Distinct
Essentials for Major Projects
Pippa Hyam will be presenting at this conference
to take place on 13-14 June 2006 at Sadlers Wells Theatre in London.
The two-day conference is aimed at people working on large scale
regeneration and development projects and will put the view that
in such cases it is no longer satisfactory for public consultation
and stakeholder engagement to be bundled together. In the afternoon
of the first day Pippa will be talking about web-based
public consultation methods. See http://www.thewaterfront.co.uk/pdfs/current_conferences/Pub%20ConsBroch.pdf
for a leaflet about the event and for booking details.
