VA (Public & Science)


VA is a Swedish non-profit civil society organisation that works to promote dialogue and openness between researchers and the public.
The organisation was founded in 2002 and is based in Stockholm, Sweden.
VA's members consist of some 80 organisations, authorities, universities, companies and associations. In addition, it has a number of individual members. The organisation is funded through membership fees, project grants and a grant from the Swedish Ministry of Education and Research.
VA's main aims:
  1. Increase collaboration between researchers and the public.
  2. Increase knowledge and dialogue about:
  3. * Public perceptions of research and research needs
  4. * Prerequisites for research, research methods and results
  5. * Methods for science communication
  6. Be a leading knowledge hub for public engagement and science communication
  7. Strengthen all aspects of engagement with society; democratic, cultural as well as for the benefit and education of society
VA carries out surveys and studies with the aim of increasing knowledge about the relationships between science and society at large. This includes an annual barometer into the Swedish public's general attitudes towards science and researchers, as well as more specific studies on how opinion-forming groups in society view and use research, how researchers interact with society, and methods for dialogue on science and research.
VA also arranges many events and activities aimed at stimulating dialogue between researchers and the public in new ways and in novel arenas. VA is the Swedish national co-ordinator for the science festival . The first Researchers' Night was run in Sweden in September 2005 and in 2017 events were run in 29 cities in Sweden.
VA also organises the , a science communication competition for researchers and , a citizen science initiative that engages pupils in real research. Other activities include Science Cafés. VA also participates in societal debate via traditional as well as social media.
VA is currently a partner in three EU-funded Horizon 2020 projects SciShops: , Open Responsible research and Innovation to further Outstanding Knowledge, is aimed at fostering RRI and open science in research performing and research funding organisations. ' will expand the ecosystem of Science Shops in Europe and BLOOM is aimed at raising public awareness and interest in the bioeconomy through dialogue and co-creation activities.
VA is a member of EUSEA , ECSA and the network.
Secretary Generals
  • 2002-2011 Camilla Modéer
  • 2011–present Cissi Billgren Askwall
Chairs'''