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Science

Answer

The Science: [So what? So everything] campaign was launched on 28 January 2009. Costs in each year are as follows:"2008-09: £601,200 ex VAT (covers period from start of campaign 28 January 2009 to end of FY)""2009-10: £1,261,000 ex VAT (includes actual and projected costs for this FY)"The fraction of any individual official's time dedicated to the campaign varies between less than 10 per cent. to upwards of 80 per cent. The campaign is overseen by a senior civil service manager as part of the Department's Science and Society programme.The following officials are responsible for the management of the campaign:"2 x Grade 6""1 x Grade 7""1 x Senior Information Officer""1 x Information Officer"The Science: [So what] campaign is one aspect of a wider initiative to promote public engagement in science which includes support for activities like National Science and Engineering Week and the work of outside individuals and organisations who are helping to take forward the BIS Science and Society strategy. The campaign plays a part in contributing to the success of this broad-based activity. Its aim is to focus on putting science in places that it would not typically be associated with, such as consumer and tabloid media and thereby demonstrating to the public how important science is to their everyday livesTo evaluate the effectiveness of the Science: [So what] campaign, BIS uses a range of measures, including visits to the campaign website, the extent that media coverage has reached the campaign's core audience and its return on investment for media coverage. An Ipsos-MORI survey is also being conducted with a representative sample of 2,000 people from the C2DE (lower income) core audience, in order to gauge their recognition of the campaign, its messages and the media channels used.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

506 c1228W; 318921

Session

2009-10

Subjects

Finance Science

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk