Who are we?

• About the Task Group
• Main Activities
• Membership and Board
• The European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB)
• Contact us

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The Task Group on Public Perceptions of Biotechnology

• works to increase public awareness and understanding of biotechnology and the life sciences throughout Europe, to advance the public debate about their applications and to facilitate dialogue between interested parties.
• consists of 50 leading members from all EU and most other European countries drawn from scientific research, industry, government, consumer and environmental organisations, the media and communications researchers and practitioners.
• was established in 1991 by the European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB) which is the independent, Europe-wide organisation for biotechnology. Presently 158 institutional members and more than 2500 personal members join the European Federation of Biotechnology.
• maintains an independent position between science, industry, government, public interest groups and the media.
• monitors developments in policy, legislation, research and commercialisation with particular emphasis on public perception aspects to forecast needs and focus on relevant activities.
• is funded mainly by the European Commission.

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Main Activities

• Publications to facilitate general public access to balanced information about biotechnology in clear, non-technical language in the form of briefing papers, handbooks of information sources, reports of workshops, conferences.
• Conference, workshop and seminar organisation involving science, industry, public interest groups, government and media to inform and advance public debate about key issues in biotechnology.
• Support and collaboration with scientists, industrialists, policy makers, educationalists, journalists and public interest groups in activities.
• Education and training in communication techniques and strategies in courses run by the Task Group and other organisations: e.g. "EU Advanced Workshop on Biotechnology Ethics and Public Perceptions of Biotechnology" Oxford, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002.
• Press and media relations organised for key conferences to promote coverage by journalists and the public?s understanding of biotechnology.
• Informatics data collection and integration in the above activities. Maintenance of a database of key Organisations in Biotechnology.

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Task Group Membership and Board

The Task Group has some 50 members from biotechnology industry and research, communications and survey research, the media and social organisations like environmental, consumer, patient and animal welfare organisations. Members come from all EU and most other European countries.

The board of the Task Group is formed by:

Professor Julian Kinderlerer (Chairman)
Sheffield Institute for Biotechnology Law and Ethics (SIBLE)
United Kingdom

Dr. David Bennett (Secretary)

Secretariat, EFB Task Group Public Perceptions of Biotechnology
Oude Delft 60
NL-2611 CD Delft
The Netherlands
Phone: +31 15 212 7800
Fax: +31 15 212 7111
E-mail: david.bennett@efbpublic.org

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The European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB)

The European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB) is the association of scientific institutes, societies, companies, biotechnology associations and personal members active or interested in biotechnology and its safe and beneficial applications.

EFB runs its scientific network within the rapidly developing field of biotechnology by performing a wide range of activities:

• fostering collaboration between European biotechnologists from industry and academia and promoting biotechnology in a socially and ethically acceptable manner
• promoting international co-operation and networks in Europe and beyond
• initiating and/or organizing specialized meetings & events, for example the biennial European Congress on Biotechnology
• promoting education and training
• promoting public understanding of biotechnology
• preparing position papers, reviews and expertises on topical issues
• publishing reports on new developments in science
• maintaining good contacts with the European Commission?s Research Directorate-General and collaborating as teams of experts in research funding
• disseminating information on European Commission programmes and policy

EFB invites all those interested and active in the field of biotechnology. Membership is open to national and cross-national Learned Societies, Universities, Institutes, Companies, National Bioindustry Associations (Institutional Members) and Individuals (Personal Members). You are most welcome to join the European Federation of Biotechnology! Online EFB Membership application is available at www.efb-central.org.

For contact information, please visit www.efb-central.org.

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