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New report urges public involvement in nanotechnology policy debate
25/09/2009
A new report, released last week by a group of leading European academics, argues that decision-making on science - especially emerging technologies such as nanotechnology - must become more democratic.
The report, "Reconfiguring Responsibility", was the result of a three-year research project funded by the European Commission as part of the DEEPEN (Deepening Ethical Engagement and Participation in Emerging Nanotechnologies) project. The authors strongly suggest that current governance activities are limiting public debate and may result in a repeat of the mistakes made in managing genetically modified foods.
Phil Macnaghten, a Professor at Durham University, United Kingdom, and the Project Leader, argues while talk of 'responsible development' is a step in the right direction, it often hides outdated assumptions:
"Technologies are being driven forward with insufficient reflection on why they are being developed and on what this is likely to mean for future society. The public is keen to be involved in deliberating the often far-reaching questions that science is addressing, and policymakers need to find new ways to ensure that public views are heard, treated with respect and used to inform science policy."
Professor Richard Jones FRS, a leading nanoscientist who until recently was the Senior Advisor for Nanotechnology for the UK government's science funding agency, agrees:
"I believe that involving the public in decision making on science can lead to better outcomes – as well as being fascinating and rewarding for the scientists involved. If we are to continue to make nanotechnology a more socially responsible science we need to build on research such as that discussed in the 'Reconfiguring Responsibility' report."
According to the report, the need for action on nanotechnology is even more pressing due to the fact that it has the potential to fundamentally change everyday life and thus raises profound social and ethical questions. Attention has recently focussed on the uncertainties surrounding its long-term effects on human health and the environment, but the 'Reconfiguring Responsibility' study indicates that public concern also focuses on the kind of society being created by such technologies.
"It's great that there is a move towards public dialogue and more responsible development of new technologies," continues Macnaghten, "but at the moment this move doesn't go far enough. In the case of nanotechnology we find public hunger to be included in shaping the technology's development. However, policy processes don't yet fully take this into account. We'd like to see the terms of the debate being shaken up."
The research has found that most non-scientists accept that a degree of risk is inevitable, but are concerned about the motivations driving technology. Indeed, many people question whether the vaunted benefits of nanotechnology – in everything from defence to cosmetics to communications technology – will in practice be beneficial at all.
The report gives a number of recommendations to policy makers involved in governing nanotechnology and similar technologies, including the need to be innovative in finding ways to involve the public and to move away from policy making that simply reacts to new findings or applications.
"We want our analysis to be helpful to those at the cutting edge of decision making in science," says Macnaghten, "while at the same time not shying away from the fact that this presents a challenge to the way that things are being done."
Click here to download and read the DEEPEN report in full.
For further information about DEEPEN, please visit the project website.
Source: Durham University
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