Public input to nanotechnology debates

July 22nd, 2003 | by aobaoill |

I’ve just been passed an email from an organisation, the Loka Institute, that is pressing for Congress to mandate citizen panels on nanotechnology issues.

Citizen panels are small groups of ordinary citizens, with no prior financial or ideological stake in an issue. The panels hear from content experts on all sides and then come up with their own recommendations for federal policy on major technology issues.

The full text of their letter is below.

Dear Friends,
The Loka Institute invites members of community-based organizations and other advocates for community-based research to sign a letter to Congress urging a voice for ordinary citizens in federal policymaking for nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is an emerging new technology that is expected to have major social, economic, environmental, and health impacts on families and communities everywhere. It’s also a major new area of federal spending for research and development. So far, however, there has been very little opportunity for public participation in federal nanotechnology policy.
Together, we have a chance to change that: Please consider signing a letter to Congress and the White House — by Wednesday, July 23rd. The letter calls for the big nanotechnology bill now before Congress to include a strong provision for public participation — including citizen panels — in federal nanotechnology policy. (The bill authorizes hundreds of millions of dollars for nanotech research and development at several federal agencies.)
Citizen panels are small groups of ordinary citizens, with no prior financial or ideological stake in an issue. The panels hear from content experts on all sides and then come up with their own recommendations for federal policy on major technology issues. They also hold a national press conference to release their findings. Citizen panels are now recognized internationally as one of the most effective ways to incorporate the views of informed, ordinary citizens in public policy. Because of the publicity they generate, they also are a great way to interest communities in major social issues related to technologies.
If you think you might want to sign the letter urging Congress and the White House to support regular and ongoing public participation in nanotechnology policy, please reply directly to me at ccordes@erols.com. I will e-mail you a copy of the letter and a permission form, which you can return filled in if you decide to sign it. The deadline to sign: end of day, Wednesday, July 23rd.
Thank you! — Colleen Cordes, from Loka’s Board of Trustees

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