An initiative of Greenpeace, Cambridge University and the University of Newcastle, this independent Citizens’ Jury was an innovative experiment in public involvement in a controversial area of science. I chaired the Oversight Panel, which managed the entire Jury process.

Nanotechnologies will impact on every sphere of our lives, from healthcare and defence to food. However, there has been little public debate about how these new technologies should be managed or developed. The Citizens’ Jury brought together 15 people from all walks of life, in Halifax, Yorkshire, for ten sessions. Witnesses including scientists, civil servants and campaigners were called, and debated with the Jury, who then went on to formulate their verdict.

In their recommendations (52K pdf), launched in September 2005, the Jury called for greater public say and increased clarity over developments in nanotechnology, as well as more emphasis on health, equity and environmental protection.

Download a briefing here.

The Jury process was managed by an Oversight Panel, including representatives from government, the Research Councils, nanotechnology companies, campaign groups and three universities. Its findings fed into government policy on nanotechnology, as well as wider debates about the role of public involvement in science and policy-making.