The first part involves collecting, coordinating and critically analyzing descriptive models, worked out by philosophers, historians and sociologists of science, concerning the relationship between science, politics and society.

The second part aims at discussing and proposing viable practical applications of such models in order to convert the knowledge acquired into effective social policies.

During the first year, once the management structure of the project has been established, we intend to organize a series of seminars which will involve both our research team and other scholars. The seminars will be preceded by periods of research concerning the topics to be discussed. The results of this research will be published on a website specifically designed for the project.

At the end of the first year a round table involving all the participants and other scholars will be held at the University of Catania, in order to evaluate the achievements of the first part of the project and to propose new lines of research that will be developed in the second year.

Capitalising on the knowledge acquired during the first stage, the second part of the project, to be carried out in the second year, divides further into two steps.

The first step consists of the practical application of the studied models to the dynamics of the relationship between science and society in the interaction between EU member states scientific policies. Europe, in fact, is a compound entity in which scientific research policies are already in use at a national level. These policies take into account particular social factors relative to the cultural background of each nation. By analysing them individually, it is possible to explore the possibility of finding a common policy for the EU member states which take their differences into account.

In the second step, we rely on the expertise acquired to take a normative stance, namely to suggest sound research policies for the construction of a European knowledge-based society.

Two series of seminars will be held in the second year of the project, and they will be followed by a final conference in which we intend to invite political institutions at a local, national and European level, in order to discuss the results of our research together.