For at least the last 300 years, science has played the role of a major legitimating resource for the
introduction of specific public policies and of social governance in general. Science provided
indisputable facts about the world and life that were unquestioningly accepted by the public.
Scientists and experts had unlimited power and right to determine the direction and course of
development of societies, and citizens were in the role of passive recipients of these truths and
policies. Today, when trust in public institutions is increasingly fragile, science does not remain
immune to the doubts and claims of citizens.
Late modernity has undermined scientists’ monopoly on truth and the privilege of speaking in
the name of a bright future and progress. The social management of scientific results and policies
face a pushback from citizens and their uncritical implementation becomes increasingly difficult.
Today, science appears as just one of the forms of culture (Bloor 1976), which, in conditions of
competition with other forms of knowledge, fights for the attention of citizens. It is as if
scientists have lost their “charisma” to be “heralds and bearers” of the truth. For their part,
citizens, social movements and non-governmental organizations insist on being active
participants in the processes of establishing the “state of affairs”. There is pressure for the
“democratization of science”.
As early as the beginning of this century, the EC outlined as one of the priorities in the European
research programme the opening of science and innovation to citizens and the harmonization of
their interests, attitudes and values with scientific policies. In recent years, the EC has widely
proclaimed the strategies Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) and Open innovation,
Open science, Open to the world (3Os strategy), as well as the concept of Citizen Science, which
is one of the key axes in the program “Science with and for Society” (SwafS) of the EC Horizon
2020. Among the key priority axes of the Horizon 2020 programme are medicine and public
health and ecology. The idea behind all these programmes is to involve citizens in science
through their participation in research and innovation processes as “co-researchers”. The search for new innovative strategies for socially responsible research initiatives to raise the level of science-society relations as a sustainable policy based on science-based knowledge and fair
cooperation is highlighted.
The seminar discusses the issue of civil participation and involvement in the management of
vaccine prophylaxis and air cleanliness. The following questions will be discussed: can citizens
be active participants in the process of “getting” the truth? How is scientific data handled and
what are the criteria for orientation in the use of information? How can citizens be involved in
evidence-based policymaking? What are the risks and challenges of establishing an open
science? Is a science for citizens possible, rather than a science for power?
The round table will be attended by project members and other scientists, policy makers and
experts, representatives of NGOs and citizens, representatives of local authorities. The purpose
of the discussions is to outline possible perspectives for a better understanding of the work of
scientists, the involvement of citizens in research and decision-making and the development of
evidence-based public policies.
Opening of the seminar (round table) by the project manager
Prof. Ivan Chalakov; 10:00-10:15
Panel I, day 1: “Vaccination hesitation: vaccine prophylaxis between science and the public”,
(moderator Petya Bankova) 10.15-14.30
Compass Conference Hall and via online link: https://meet.google.com/bab-pfbb-kis
Current situation with the epidemic of Covid-19 and vaccination of the population (10.15-10.45):
Prof. Dr. Yordanka Stoilova (Medical University Plovdiv) 10.15
Dr. Tihomir Bezlov (Center for the Study of Democracy) 10.30
Questions and discussion (10.45-10.55)
The vaccine hesitancy: lessons from the past and imprints on the present (10.55-12.10):
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tihomir Mitev (PU) – “On the determinants of vaccination hesitancy” 10.55
Prof. Dr. Ivan Chalakov/ PhD student Bilyana Mileva (PU) 11.10
Prof. Dr. Krastina Petkova (IPS-BAS) – “Trust in science: data from a comparative study of
attitudes in Great Britain and Bulgaria” 11.25
Assist. Prof. Mimi Vasileva (PU) 11.40
Zoro Zorov (PU) – “Facebook as a portal to the Bulgarian “anti-vax” 11.55
Discussion and coffee break 12.10-12.30
Vaccine prophylaxis: between science and the public. Is civil science possible with regard to
vaccines? (12.30-13.45)
Dr. Hristiana Batselova (Medical University Plovdiv) 12.30 pm
Dr. Stefan Nikolov (PU) 12.45 p.m
Manol Peykov (former MP, citizen and entrepreneur promoting scientific information about
vaccines) 13.00
Dr. Kostadin Sotirov (General Practitioner) 13.15
arch. Petkana Bakalov (activist for free choice of mandatory vaccines from the immunization
calendar) 13.30
Discussion and closing: 13.45-14.15
Guests: team members, students, management, fellow lecturers.
Panel II, Day 2: “Science for citizens and Civil Science. The Plovdiv case: the struggle for clean
air. (moderator PhD student Bilyana Mileva) 10.00-13.15
Online only: https://meet.google.com/bab-pfbb-kis
Civil science 10.00-10.45
PhD student Petya Bankova (PU) – “Civil Science: The Challenges of Definition. European
examples”
Prof. Dr. Ivan Chalakov (PU) 10.15
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tihomir Mitev (PU) – “The rebellion of the masses and the betrayal of science”
10.30
Discussion 10.45-11.00 am
Enthusiast scientists and civil science. (11.00-11.20)
Chief Assist. Prof. Dr. Atanas Terziyski (PU) – Presents the activities of the “Meter.ac” network
Questions and discussion with coffee break 11.20-11.45
“The Case of Plovdiv” and clean air. (11.45-12.45)
Prof. Dr. Stefka Naumova (IDP-BAS) 11.45
Georgi Velev, attorney at law 12.00
Citizens of Plovdiv 12.15
Mikhail Ekimdzhiev, attorney at law 12.30
Discussion 12.45-13.15
Guests: team members, students, management, fellow lecturers.
