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Nanodialogues
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Nanodialogues
Method(s) Used
Name of person who posted the project:Dominic Potter Error formatting macro: rate: java.lang.NullPointerException
Location of project:United Kingdom
Date when the project started:2005
Date when the project ended/project ongoing:2007
Background to project:Nanodialogues was developed as a result of recommendations by the Royal Society (RS) and the Royal Academy of engineering (RAE) on how the Government should take forward the new and challenging area of nanotechnology research. Their report included a recommendation to carry out public engagement to find out what people think about this complex science and its possible applications in order to inform policy decisions.. Purpose of project:The Nanodialogues project had four core objectives. These were to:. *Experiment in a theoretically-informed way with new methods of ?upstream? public dialogue *Ensure that the dialogue experiments were developed to help institutions make decisions and set priorities *Generate resources to enrich debate within the scientific community and wider society around the implications of nanotechnology *Identify wider lessons learned to help develop the policy and practice of public engagement in science and technology issues. . Project activities:The project delivered four different experiments in public engagement around nanotechnology. All were ?deliberative? in that they involved people coming together to discuss the issues with experts, going away to reflect then coming back together to discuss further.. The project did not look at any particular application over another but allowed free range in the discussions. Each dialogue process was tailored to the needs of the each partner, who used the results to help develop their own policies on nanotechnology and how they would engage with the public and other stakeholders in the future. . Project results:The project confirmed the dilemmas and ideas that those working in nanotechnology had already identified and therefore justified the research being done and the money being spent in developing this area.. It became clear that the scientists involved in all four experiments were very open to dialogue with the public and keen to find out people?s views. Most agreed that there was definite value in listening to a completely different perspective, particularly from the people who will eventually have to live with the impact of this particular science. . Although the project was not designed as a citizenship ?tool? as such, some people became very active participants in the experiments and advocates of dialogue in general. . All the experiments showed that when the intention of the dialogue partner was clear, when citizens knew who was listening to their discussion and where the results would go, they were very supportive of the use of dialogue to help form policy and were proud to have been involved. . Contact details:Nanodialogues Project Manager:Jack Stilgoe, Demos Tel: 020 7367 6333 . Nanodialogues fi nal report can be found at: www.demos.co.uk/publications/nanodialogues . |
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