Public participation in science - The role of consensus conferences in Europe
The British Science Museum has published a report entitled "Public participation in science - The role of consensus conferences in Europe". The report, which was financed by the Community's specific RTD programme in the field of biotechnology (BIOTECH), is based on the conclusions of an international conference convened to discuss the "consensus conference" as a model for public participation in scientific and technological debate, particularly in the field of biotechnology. Public debate in the area of science and technology is traditionally problematic in that scientists' arguments and explanations are not widely understood by lay people and, in many cases, lay people's legitimate interests and concerns are not generally appreciated by scientists. The idea of "consensus conferences" was originally initiated in Denmark, in the late 1980s, with a view to facilitating genuine dialogue between experts and the general public. This initiative was gradually taken up by other countries in Europe and, today, interest in the consensus conference model is relatively wide spread. The report prepared by the British Science Museum aims to provide a general assessment of the significance of the consensus conference model as a contribution to public debate and public decision making about science and technology. It should serve as a useful resource for all who wish to facilitate informed debate between the scientific and lay communities.