Engaging the public and experts in decisions about tackling the greatest issues facing society today

An Ipsos public dialogue and stakeholder event on the Longitude 2014 prize challenge selection criteria and potential prize challenges

A new Ipsos study for Nesta explores public and stakeholder views with regard to potential prize challenges, prize challenge selection criteria, and measures to stimulate interest among the public and engage innovators and the science community. The final prize challenge will be decided by public vote, set to be announced on the 25th of June.

Findings from the public dialogue and stakeholder event helped Nesta and Longitude Committee members to understand what criteria should inform the shortlisting of Longitude prize challenges.

Prize selection criteria by each audience
The public’s view	Stakeholder view
Ambitious but solvable. Longitude 2014 should reflect the scale and significance of the original Longitude prize.	Specific, outcome focussed prize challenges. This will help with the development of prize success metrics and stimulate innovator engagement.
Interconnected. Tackling or solving one challenge to help resolve other problems.	Impact that makes a real difference in society.
Global reach. Specifically, promoting global equality between developed and developing countries.	Scaleable. Final prize challenge shortlisting should consider issues such as practicality, and affordability to the end user.
Benefit the whole of society. Unless the prize has the potential to make a “life-changing” impact for specific groups.	The prize should stimulate innovation that would not happen without the incentive of Longitude 2014.

The research also helped Nesta and committee members to understand views of Nesta’s suggested prize challenges, and alternatives suggested by each audience.

	The public's view	Stakeholder view
Challenges with most support	Tackling food shortage Tackling malnutrition Tackling pollution and contamination Improving ecosystems Providing a reliable energy supply to all Helping people to live independent lives	Tackling antibiotic resistance Curing or reversing the effects of dementia Providing a reliable energy supply to all Reducing energy usage in passenger transport
Suggested alternatives	Tackling Alzheimer’s Mental health / blindness / “killer diseases” Combatting obesity Water shortage and quality	Energy storage Reduce dependence on oil in transport Resource and waste re-use Declining fish stocks Tackling marine eco-system degradation Tackling water acidification / desalination

In response, Nesta and the Longitude Committee combined this study’s findings with its other streams of work involving experts and scientists to develop a final shortlist of six Longitude challenges which were broadcast by the BBC in its Horizon programme on the 11th of June.

Technical note

Ipsos conducted the research in two stages:

• Stage one involved reconvened public dialogue sessions in three locations, each lasting three hours. Longitude Committee members and other experts identified potential prize challenges and prize selection criteria which then were tested with the public. The public were also invited to suggest alternative challenges and criteria.
• Stage two involved a stakeholder event held at the Science Museum, lasting three hours. In this event the findings from public dialogue workshops and expert views were presented and stakeholders were asked to debate these findings but not be constrained by them.