Madison Area Consensus Conference on Nanotechnologies

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Method(s) Used

Consensus Conference (Methods)

Name of person who posted the project:

Karin Gavelin (Involve)

Location of project:

United Kingdom

Date when the project started:

2005

Date when the project ended/project ongoing:

2005

Background to project:

Modeled on a deliberative process pioneered in Denmark in the 1980s, Madisonï¿½s first consensus conference aimed to allow area citizens to consider the promises and perils of the many possible future nanotechnologies before they reach the market.

The project was based upon the twin premises that:

citizens have the right to have a say on all matters that affect their lives
lay people are able to understand complex information and may have insights that specialists do not consider.

Purpose of project:

The objectives of the conference were to:

Educate citizens about nanotechnologies.
Eaise the profiles of both nanotechnologies and citizen participation through the media.
Gain the attention of elected officials.
Gain an understanding of if and how participating in a consensus conference affects citizensï¿½ understanding of a subject and their sense of political empowerment.

Project activities:

Thirteen demographically diverse Madison area citizens were recruited through press coverage in local papers, TV and radio slots and press releases to major papers. The recruitment took place over two months and thirteen participants were selected from eighteen applicants based on the organiser's belief that ï¿½they could best contribute to a well-rounded citizen panelï¿½.

The conference took place over three Sunday meetings, prior to which participants read background material on nanotechnologies. At the first meeting, participants discussed their reading and developed a list of questions about nanotechnologies. At the second meeting, seven specialists sought to address participants' questions in a public forum. This meeting was open to the public and 30 people attended. At the third meeting participants drafted recommendations for Government. The recommendations were launched in a report at a press conference for elected officials and the media on April 28 2005. Copies were also sent to all Wisconsin legislators.

Project results:

In reference to the projectï¿½s objectives, the organisers felt that citizens did become educated about nanotechnologies. Increasing the profile of nanotechnologies and citizen participation through press coverage was achieved to a degree. However, the press was mainly local and conference participants identified the lack of sufficient media coverage of nanotechnologies as an issue. Six state-elected officials did attend the conferenceï¿½s press event but it is unclear whether they have taken any action on the recommendations.

The panellistsï¿½ recommendations covered greater health and safety testing of nanotechnologies materials, product labelling, providing mechanisms for citizen involvement in the direction of research, greater media coverage and increased funding for exploring the societal and ethical impacts of nanotechnologies.

For a full list of recommendations see the Report of the Madison Area Citizen Conference on Nanotechnology, available to download from the project website (below).

Contact details:

Contact: Dr Daniel Kleinman, Department of Rural Sociology, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Email: dlkleinman@wisc.edu

Website: http://cdaction.org/nanotechnology_citizen_conference.html

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