[NSECImage9]In Spring 2005, UW-Madison’s NSEC sponsored a citizens consensus conference on nanotechnology.
Organized by Professor Daniel Kleinman, a faculty member in NSEC thrust 4, and Maria Powell, an NSEC postdoctoral researcher, the conference allowed a dozen Madison citizens to deliberate on nanotechnology research over a three-week period.

The citizens debated among themselves, met with a number of experts in a range of relevant fields, and considered the potential value of nanotechnology and its possible social implications. The conference culminated in the production and presentation of a final report which was disseminated online and presented to state and university leaders and the media at a final press conference.

The conference energized its participants, who have become outspoken advocates for greater opportunities for the public to learn about and engage with nanotechnology. Several have become regular participants at NSEC public events, including speakers and social activities.
The group established itself as a formal public interest group and organized Madison’s first Science Cafés, which led to Nano Cafés with support from Thrust 4 Maria Powell and Mathilde Colin.

The conference also provided an opportunity for 25 students in Professor Kleinman’s course, Expertise and Democracy, to learn practical approaches to facilitating greater public engagement with science and engineering.

The conference report continues to receive attention. It has become the subject of commentary on numerous nanotechnology blogs. It recently figured in a multi-day series on nanotechnology in the Wisconsin State Journal and was discussed on the radio station WORT over the summer.

Related Publications:

M. Powell, "Building citizen capacities for participation in technoscientific decision making: The democratic virtues of the consensus conference model," Public Understanding of Science, 17, 2007, In Press.

M. Powell, J. Grice, J. Adrian, and C. Lobes, "A toolkit for democratizing science and technology policy: the practical mechanics of organizing a consensus conference," Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society, 27, 154-169, 2007.

M. Powell, "Science literacy and civic engagement: Learning from a consensus conference," Rainer Glaser, et al (eds.), Science Communication for All, Sense Publisher, 2007, In Press.