Ten lessons for a nanodialogue About being dead serious and having serious fun Rinie van Est

Transcription

1 OECD Workshop on public engagement with NT, Delft, Ten lessons for a nanodialogue About being dead serious and having serious fun Rinie van Est

2 Need for public engagement Van der Laan: We want to start a societal debate on nanotechnology. Now only the incrowd is talking about it. Public meeting Small technology Big consequences (Dutch Parliament, The Hague, October 13, 2004)

3 Government wants to promote a nanodialogue Vision paper on NT: From Small to Great (2006) Broad-based commission: to identify any unwanted or hazardous consequences of nanotechnologies in the field of health, working conditions, the environment, ethics and social relationships at the early stage. Stakeholder-process: in order to kick-start the public dialogue about nanotechnologies. Various ways to engage the public in NT. Nanotechnology Action Plan (2008): Commission will organise a broad public nanodialogue

4 Nanodialogue: No simple task Arnall and Parr (2005): "The idea of a 'public debate' about new technologies is in vogue, but this has to be meaningful or it will simply promote cynicism".

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6 Contents 1. Rathenau Institute 2. Content and process Framing the debate on NT Public engagement activities 3. Ten lessons for a nanodialogue

7 Rathenau Institute s objective To stimulate the political and public debate on social and ethical aspects surrounding science and technology

8 Rathenau Institute Established in 1986 in The Hague Part of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences Independent organisation Main target group Dutch Parliament European Parliament Tasks Technology Assessment Science System Assessment

9 Content & Process

10 To Value the Small provides an initial concept agenda for public discussion, and thus presents a form of work in progress. Van Est, Malsch & Rip (2004)

11 Application area Nanomaterials Nano-electronics Bio-electronics Medical sphere Military technology General / innovation Societal issue Health and environmental effects Self-reproduction Privacy Human enhancement Hybrid forms of living and non-living Predictive medicine Arms race Ethics of war Human enhancement Economy Patents International development Governance Van Est et al. 2004

12 Rathenau activities Workshop Biomedical NT Survey Workshop Nanoelectronics Workshop Nanoparticles Workshop NT in agrofood Public meeting ( ) Small technology Big consequences Focus groups Early public perceptions Organised in cooperation with Parlementary Theme Commission Technology Policy

13 Nano & BIC: 4 technological revolutions Materials revolution Nano Non-living Info Bio Living Cogno Biotechnological revolution Information revolution Revolution in cognitive sciences

14 Eg. Nano & biotechnology: From reading to writing the genetic code

15 Eg. nano & information technology: RFID, Ambient Intelligence

16 Nano as a search light Nano Nanotoxicity Synthetic biology Bio Ambient Intelligence in Health Care RFID Social robots Info Public space 2.0 Brain sciences Cogno

17 Nano as a search light Nano Nanotoxicity Synthetic biology Bio Ambient Intelligence in Health Care RFID Social robots Info Public space 2.0 Brain sciences Cogno

18 Broad challenge of timely public engagement Content Nano risk issue + broader nanodebate New and longstanding (institutionalized) issues Upcoming: RFID, synthetic biology, human enhancement, AmI Process: Scientists, social scientists, policy makers, governmental institutions, politicians, NGOs, citizens Engagement of none of these actors is self-evident Variety of methods: ELSI study, expert-stakeholder participation, citizens participation, artistic methods Public engagement includes all these activities

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20 Lesson 1. Differentiate between the risk issue and the broader debate about nanotechnology

21 Nano Risk issue Nanotoxicity Synthetic biology Bio AmI in Health Care Broader nanodialogue RFID Social robots Info Public space 2.0 Brain sciences Cogno

22 Risk issue: about being dead serious Ellen Silbergeld, EPTA conference October 27, 2008

23 Lesson 2. Actively address the risk issue

24 Don t get blinded by the nano-light Nano Risk issue Nanotoxicity Synthetic biology Bio AmI in Health Care Broader nanodialogue RFID Social robots Info Public space 2.0 Brain sciences Cogno

25 Lesson 3. Involve NGOs in developing policy

26 Lesson 4. Provide clear information about nanotechnology products, risk governance strategy and the uncertainties

27 Don t get blinded by the nano-light Nano Risk issue Nanotoxicity Synthetic biology Bio AmI in Health Care Broader nanodialogue RFID Social robots Info Public space 2.0 Brain sciences Cogno

28 The broader nanodebate: About having serious fun

29 How can the next technology wave contribute to a better future? Nano Bio Info Cogno

30 Lesson 5. Ensure that there is a public agenda which enjoys broad support

31 Lesson 6. Build upon ongoing discussions wherever possible

32 Many issues will not be discussed under the term nano Nano Synthetic biology Nanotoxicity Bio Ambient Intelligence Info RFID Social robots Brain sciences Cogno

33 Lesson 7. Facilitate the involvement of smaller NGOs

34 Lesson 8. Remain open to the agenda of NGOs

35 Lesson 9. Inform the public about the societal aspects of nanotechnology

36 Lesson 10. Involve citizens by means of smallscale engagement activities

37 Conclusions: making NT public Goal of public engagement is to ensure public value of science Public engagement in science is a broad challenge Mapping the public issues Participation: experts, stakeholders, citizens, industry, GOs, NGOs, etc. Dealing with these issues

38 Thank you