Transcript The Danish Board of Technology

How to design and organize
a public deliberation project
Gy Larsen
Ida-Elisabeth Andersen
The Danish Board of Technology
How to design and organize a
public deliberation project
• Outline presentation
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What is a good topic?
What purpose does the project have?
How to select an issue?
Who are going to be involved?
What kind of methodology is possible
and/or necessary?
1. What is a good topic?
examples
• New applications to gene technology
– new gene plants
• Toxicology and Nanotechnology
• Sustainable urban living
• Surveillance and privacy
• Energy system – future development
• Brain Science – new development and
uses
2. The purpose of the project
Proactive – Reactive TA
• upcoming technology
• regulation of technology
• dissemination and wider use of
technology
Three dimensions of policy
analysis
Dimension
Method demand
Actors / functions
Cognitive
Establish knowledge-base;
suggest knowledge based
solutions
Uncover and share norms and
values
Experts; Users /
Operative aims
Create legitimate and accepted
solutions
Decision-makers;
Networks; Citizens /
Transparent procedures
Normative
Pragmatic
Citizens; Stakeholders /
Networking; Social
learning; bridge building
Cognitive = Knowledge role
examples
• Provide an overview of existing knowledge
and new developments of the topic: threats
and possibilities
• Put light on the topic from different
professional and value perspectives
• Take on board the insight, experience and
credibility of citizens and provide a platform
to voices, seldom heard in the public room
Normative = Bridgebuilding
role examples
• Create new fora for dialogue across
professional and social groups
• Uncover and discuss norms and values
• Help actors reflect and communicate – help
dialogue and bridgebuilding
• Introduce new agenda, new visions
Pragmatic = Policy making
role examples
• Create legitimate and accepted solutions
• Produce recommendations for policy
makers
• Propose new regulation – legislation
• Propose new procedures - new orientations
for managing etc.
3. How to select an issue
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Technological content
Problem, conflict and need of decisions
Essential for many people or for a segment
Topical – timing
Target group
The organisation must have a role to play
Problem
Today the transport sector in the western part of the world represents
nearly 2/3 of our total use of oil, and consumption is rising. It is necessary
to search for alternatives.
2
Technology
Bioethanol, biodiesel, methanol, methan, hydrogen – espescially new
advanced technologies for production of biofuels are alternatives.
2
Importance
The EU biofuel directive aims at growing use of biofuels to transport and
sets objectives for the member countries. Denmark has decided to have a
goal below the EU recommendation.
1
Timing
Today 70% of all energy in EU is imported. This percentage is expected to
rise to 98% in 2020. There is a need for action now. New fuels demand
adaptation.
1
Aimed at
Research and fiscal area, politicians in the fields of traffic, energy and
environment
1
Relevance
for the
Organisation
Existing and new knowledge about the topic must be found and
communicated to decisionmakers
1
Total rating
8
4. Who should be involved?
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Is new knowledge and solutions needed?
Do we know too little about public opinion?
Is it time for new agenda setting?
Is a conflict in society dealing with the
issue?
• Do politicians need an advice?
• Or?
Considerations
• An expert group process
• Stakeholder involvement
• Citizen consultation
• Involving politicians
• Or?
Politicians
Stakeholders
Experts
Citizens
Laypeople
”Lack of knowledge” – a vessel to be
filled with expert information
→ No, laypeople do have knowledge
and engagement in society
Laypeople have their own, valuable
perspective on science and technology
Goals when involving
citizens
• Proactive discussions on upstream
technologies
• Consultation on how to use technology
• Debate resistance in society against
technology
• To involve the involved
Recruit and select participants
Principle
Benefits
Costs
Representativity
Sample
represents
population
(demogr. –
attitudes)
•Is accepted
•Can be compared
with other studies or
elections
•Very big group
•very expensive
•Difficult to ”handle”
Mixed
Define criteria –
compose a group
Variety, broad group
all kinds of people
Any size you want
Possible to cheat
Equal
representation of
involved interests
•Pol. relevant debate
•Room for views
which use to be
marginalized or out
•Positions have to be
defined/accepted
• risks of hidden
agreements – social
partnering
Example –
Consensus
Conference
Balanced
Example –
Scenario
Workshop
5. What kind of methodology?
Participation
Type
Role of
participant
Role
Method example
projectlead
Survey/
interviews
Source of
information
Researcher
Choice
questionnaire
Deliberative
survey
Evaluator
”voice”
Organizer/a
nalyst
Focus groups,
deliberative poll
Constructive
dialogue
Stake holder
Organizer,
mediator
Future
search/Scenario
Workshop
Public
consultation
Advisor,
consultant
Organizer
Consensus
Conference
Roles of participation in TA
Raising
Knowledge
Forming
Attitudes
Initialising
Action
Tech/
Science
Aspects
Scientific
Assessment
(options,consequences)
Agenda setting
(influence and
stimulate public
debate,
Introduce visions
etc.)
Reframing of debate
(propose new initiatives
– find new orientation)
Social
Aspects
Social
Mapping
(stake holders,
conflicts)
Mediation
(help actors reflect
and communicate –
bridge building)
Propose new decision
making processes
(new ways of governance
– new debate)
Policy
aspects
Policy analysis
(explore
objectives,
assess policies)
Restructure policy
debate
Decisions about:
Pol innovations
New legislation
Be aware of pitfalls
• Do not underestimate citizens or other
participants
• Hidden conflicts
• Too narrow and unreflected use of methods
• Method not suitable for local problems
• Don’t forget to involve some important
actors/stakeholders
• It is a mistake to avoid critical voices