Getting the right expert group

Selecting the right group of experts for this event was always going to be tricky. We had to find the right people, we had to ensure the right balance of views about GM and we had to make sure that just six people could answer questions on a very wide range of issues around GM Food.  It’s no small undertaking.

Our first step was to appoint an Advisory Panel. We, at I’m a Scientist HQ, knew that we didn’t have the in-depth knowledge of GM that was going to be required to select the expert group. We were delighted that all three of the panel committed themselves to help us out.  They are:

Caroline Allen – Veterinary surgeon and Green Party Policy Committee member working on science, food and agriculture policy.

David Baulcombe – Regius Professor of Botany, Royal Society Research Professor, University of Cambridge

James Wilsdon – Professor of Science and Democracy – Science and Technology Policy Research, University of Sussex

During the time it took to settle upon this panel we’ve also asked people to nominate experts. We’ve had over 60 from a wide variety of organisations and people. Some have been pro-GM, others anti-GM. A broad range of contributors, just what we wanted.

We’ve asked the Advisory Panel to let us know their views on the various nominations. To endorse those they felt right, to suggest others where there were gaps. We’re hoping that the Panel will come to a unanimous view on 6 experts. We were hoping they could do that by this morning. However a combination of unavailability from some experts and gaps in the nominations have meant we are not there yet.

We have decided to delay the launch of the event until Monday 25th June in order to give us more time to find the right group of experts.

In the meantime please do keep nominating.

 

Posted on June 13, 2012 by ModShane in News. Leave a comment

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