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Essay
Nature 450, 174 (8 November 2007) | doi:10.1038/450174a; Published online 7 November 2007
Science & Politics A timely harvest
Pierre-Benoit Joly1 & Arie Rip2
- Pierre-Benoit Joly is director of research at INRA, 65 Boulevard de Brandebourg, F-94205 Ivry, France, and director of the TSV (Social and Political Transformations related to Life Sciences) research unit.
- Arie Rip is emeritus professor of philosophy of science and technology at the University of Twente in Enschede, the Netherlands, and leads a programme on social and ethical aspects of nanotechnology.
Abstract
The public should be consulted on contentious research and development early enough for their opinions to influence the course of science and policy-making.
Public engagement in emerging science and technology is thriving, particularly in the United Kingdom. Recent initiatives such as 'Nanodialogues', organized by the think-tank Demos, suggest that citizen juries, dialogue exercises and interactive public understanding projects can be fruitful for scientists and members of the public.
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