The Future of Science Governance: Publics, Policies, Practices

Phil Macnaghten and Jason Chilvers
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Phil Macnaghten: Department of Geography, Science Laboratories, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, England; and Department of Science and Technology Policy, Institute of Geosciences, PO Box 6152, State University of Campinas—UNICAMP, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil
Jason Chilvers: Science, Society and Sustainability (3S) Group, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, England

Environment and Planning C, 2014, vol. 32, issue 3, 530-548

Abstract: In this paper we develop new insights on science governance at a time when an emphasis on public engagement in responding to questions of trust in science is giving way to a more systemic and networked perspective. In a meta-analysis across seventeen UK public dialogue processes we identify five spheres of public concern about the governance of science and technology relating to: the purposes of science; trust; inclusion; speed and direction of innovation; and equity. Forty in-depth interviews with senior UK science-policy actors reveal highly partial institutional responses to these concerns and help explain the underlying processes that close down, and at times open up, reflection and response on public values. Finally, we consider the implications of this analysis for the future of science governance, prospects for more anticipatory, reflexive, and inclusive forms of governing, and the roles for critical social science inquiry.

Keywords: science governance; public dialogue; public concerns; models of engagement; institutional responses; reflexivity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:envirc:v:32:y:2014:i:3:p:530-548

DOI: 10.1068/c1245j

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