Nanodialogues
Sciencewise-ERC funded project 2005-2007
Background
Nanodialogues was developed as a result of recommendations by the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering on how the Government should take forward the new and challenging area of nanotechnology research. Find out more about the project background.
Aims and Objectives
- Experiment in a theoretically-informed way with new methods of ‘upstream’ public dialogue.
- Ensure that the dialogue experiments were developed to help institutions make decisions and set priorities.
- Generate resources to enrich debate within the scientific community and wider society around the implications of nanotechnology.
- Identify wider lessons learned to help develop the policy and practice of public engagement in science and technology issues.
Delivered By
The Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Council (BBSRC)
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Unilever
Latest Status Updates
This project is now complete. Find out more to the right.
Find Out More
- Demos project webpage
- Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering report 2004
- Government response to the Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering report 2005
- Two year review of progress of Government actionsBIS
- nano and me website
- Nanotechnology Engagement Group project
- NanoChannels (Public Engagement Project)Institute of Nanotechnology
- Nanotechnology Research Coordination Group reportDecember 2007
- Nanodialogues. Experiments in public engagement with scienceJack Stilgoe, 2007
- Democratic technologies? The final report of the Nanotechnology Engagement GroupKaren Gavelin, Richard Wilson and Robert Doubleday
- Pupils inform debate on ethics of nanotechnology
Key Impacts
- The project influenced EA, BBSRC and EPSRC policy on nanotechnology.
- Provided a unique insight into what developing countries need from UK decision-making processes.
- Developed ideas with industry about where they may find public dialogue useful.
Resources
- People's Inquiry ReportEnvironment Agency
- Nanodialogues: Engaging Research Councils’ Response ReportBBSRC and EPSRC
- 2007 Nanodialogues report: Engaging Research Councils
- “The Role of New Technologies in Potable Water Provision: A Stakeholder Workshop Approach”
- Nanodialogues Evaluation Report
- EA Case Study
- Nanodialogues Case Study
Project Quotes
“The Environment Agency came up with a new approach to how they regulate nanoparticles in the environment”Policy maker
“Our experiment showed that it is possible to develop a dialogue about a complex environmental issue with a group of people who initially know very little about it”Environment Agency
“It had a huge impact in terms of the way I think about science and how scientific priorities are set”Scientist