Paper long abstract:

This paper considers the governance of science in relation to principles of participatory and representative democracy. The relationship between the governance arrangements in the European Union's European Research Area and the mode(s)of science communication is explored. The persistence of elements of the traditional 'deficit model' of science communication is identified within EU policy discourses and is contrasted with modes of science communication that promote the active engagement of citizens ('the public') and scientists in the science governance process. To illustrate these issues an overview of the newly introduced ERICs (European Research Infrastructure Consortium), key pillars of the European Research Area, is presented.