[Synthetic Biology] A Citizen Jury for Science / SB

[Markus Schmidt]

Without assuming to speak with authority, I would like to mention the
following:

There have already been some studies on ways to include non-scientists and
non-traditional decision makers when it comes to judge new technologies
and its applications. Such participatory processes may come in a variety
of different forms and flavors, e.g. round tables, citizen jury, world
cafe, which can be selected according to the kind of technology, stage of
public discussion (ignorance  to outrage), complexity, and a couple of
other criteria. Its clear that not every participatory approach can be
applied to any kind of technology debate.

There is some literature - especially from European case studies - trying
to find out which kind of "participatory Technology Assessment" (pTA) may
work out (or not) in its particular circumstances. For example, a couple
of years ago a European project called EUROPTA European Participatory
Technology Assessment see:
http://www.eptanetwork.org/EPTA/projects.php?pid=139

was carried out trying to analyse pTA and to give guidance for the
implementation of participatory methods as a support function for public
discourse and decision-making.

Their final report is available at:
http://www.tekno.dk/pdf/projekter/europta_Report.pdf

Note that some of the autors of this study are already interested in SB,
as at least two of them (Rinie van Est, Helge Torgersen) have participated
at the SB 3.0 in Zurich.

There is also some literature on "risk governance" that deals with
stakeholder involvement in governing approaches regarding new
technologies.
Another participant and speaker at SB 3.0 Joyce Tait has done some work on
risk governance aspects of nanotech that could be useful to SB.
See:
http://www.irgc.org/irgc/IMG/pdf/IRGC_white_paper_2_PDF_final_version.pdf


Regards Markus








> There are many interesting and important topics embedded in the idea
> of citizen juries for research.
>
> Here are a few that I think are worth considering independently from
> one another, and then thinking about if they might be productively
> combined, as well as what is *most* worth doing (given limited
> resources).
>
> First, what is the best way to educate people not involved in the
> scientific and engineering research of synthetic biology re: what
> has, is, and might be happening?  Juries, video games, game shows,
> Colbert Report interviews, press releases, comic strips, cereal
> boxes, pop music, World Cup sponsorships, encoding Google ad-words as
> DNA sequences, starting a Greenpeace iGEM team, everything?
> Similarly, how can folks who are working in research and on
> technologies best learn from other individuals and groups?  What are
> the best approaches for communication and education in this
> complementary direction?
>
> Second, how should decisions be made?  What research should or should
> not be done?  What applications and products should or should not be
> developed?  Who decides?  When and how does the impact of a project
> trigger a decision making process?  When and how do implicit factors
> suffice (e.g., lack of resources) and when do they fail?  What
> already happens today and why?  For example, do we understand
> existing criminal and civil law well enough to recognize its impact
> on the decision making process (and the strengths and weaknesses of
> its impact)?
>
> Presumably there are experts who can speak with authority on such
> topics.  Can anybody here speak up or suggest others that we could
> involve?
>
> Thanks,
> Drew
>
>
>
>
> On Jul 6, 2007, at 11:06 AM, John Cumbers wrote:
>
>> A Citizen Jury for Science / SB
>> http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2007/07/a-citizen-
>> jury-.html#comment-75090490
>>
>> If we really want to engage the public with science, why not let
>> them judge it?
>>
>> I just left a comment on this article with my view,
>> cheers,
>> John
>>
>>
>> --
>> John Cumbers,  Graduate Student
>> Biology and Medicine
>> Brown University, Box G-W
>> Providence, Rhode Island, 02912, USA
>> Tel USA: +1 401 523 8190,  Fax: +1 401 863-2166
>> UK to USA: 0207 617 7824
>> _______________________________________________
>> discuss mailing list
>> discuss at syntheticbiology.org
>> http://lists.syntheticbiology.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>
> _______________________________________________
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>


-- 
Dr. Markus Schmidt
Organisation for International Dialogue and Conflict Management, Biosafety
Working Group
Abt-Karlg. 19/21
1180 Vienna, Austria
NEW MOBILE: +43 660 6856623
www.idialog.eu
email: markus.schmidt at idialog.eu or
markus.schmidt at id-c.org