How the Public Can Inform Science and Technology Policy

Hosted by the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and the Consortium for Science, Policy & Outcomes in partnership with the Museum of Science Boston and the School of Earth and Space Exploration.

Participatory technology assessment (pTA) is increasingly recognized as a practical and valuable democratic approach to eliciting public perspectives on profoundly important scientific and technological issues. Through pTA, public values can better inform policy and research decisions about gene editing, geoengineering, driverless vehicles, and other powerful emerging technologies.

To create an institutional model for this type of engagement, Arizona State University’s Consortium for Science, Policy & Outcomes works with the Museum of Science Boston and other informal science educators around the country. This network has partnered with a variety of organizations, including NASA, the Department of Energy, NOAA, and the Kettering Foundation. Together, we’ve developed participatory technology assessment into an innovative, replicable method for eliciting citizen perspectives prior to making scientific and technological decisions.

As part of the launch of Arizona State University’s Barrett & O’Connor Center in Washington, DC, we are pleased to invite you to participate in a public deliberation on the challenge of planetary defense. We originally conducted this deliberation for NASA’s Asteroid Initiative. Join us as we showcase our approach to participatory technology assessment and discuss how we can engage broader publics in contemporary science policy decision-making.

This event is by invitation only. Please contact Kimberly Quach if you would like to attend.