Real Engagement: New PLoS Biology Series Highlights Efforts To Bring People And Scientists Together To Shape New Technologies

Over the past few decades, numerous initiatives have sought public input on the development of potentially controversial research, from stem cell and human embryonic research to genetic engineering and nanotechnology. The reasons for soliciting public participation vary - though most initiatives assume that such participation is in the public interest - as do perspectives on just who constitutes the "appropriate" public in such endeavours.


PLoS Biology will explore the nature, aims, and consequences of such initiatives in a new series, Public Engagement in Science, starting on November 30, under the guidance of Nikolas Rose, professor of sociology and director of the BIOS Centre for the Study of Bioscience, Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Society at the London School of Economics, and Claire Marris, sociologist of science and senior research fellow in BIOS at the London School of Economics.


This series aims to investigate, through specific case studies, whether, and under what conditions, it is possible to engage the public in scientific issues in meaningful ways in decision making about the nature and consequences of innovation in the biosciences. We will feature engagement initiatives that go beyond merely collecting views of the public to those seeking to influence the trajectory of scientific research, and the culture of scientific institutions. We are soliciting articles written by or with scientists who have been involved in such initiatives, describing examples where the diverse participants involved agree that positive outcomes were achieved and so might provide models for further development.


In the first article "'Interactive Technology Assessment' and Beyond: the Field Trial of Genetically Modified Grapevines at INRA-Colmar," published November 30, Jean Masson and colleagues describe their experience using an approach called the interactive technology assessment strategy to solicit input from a broad range of stakeholders for a field trial of genetically modified grapevines in French winegrowing country, where resistance to innovation runs deep.


To learn more about the series, see the Editorial, "Open Engagement: Exploring Public Participation in the Biosciences," by Rose and Marris.


Masson and colleagues article:


Funding: This research was funded by the INRA. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.


Competing interests statement: The authors declare that no competing interests exist.


Citation: The Local Monitoring Committee, Lemaire O, Moneyron A, Masson JE (2010) "Interactive Technology Assessment" and Beyond: the Field Trial of Genetically Modified Grapevines at INRA-Colmar. PLoS Biol 8(11): e1000551. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1000551


Rose and Marris Editorial:


Competing interests statement: The authors declare that no competing interests exist.


Citation: Marris C, Rose N (2010) Open Engagement: Exploring Public
Participation in the Biosciences. PLoS Biol 8(11): e1000549. doi:10.1371/journal.
pbio.1000549


Source:

PLoS Biology