Summary

Dr Douglas Parr of Greenpeace shares his reflections on Nanojury UK, the first attempt to give ordinary members of the UK public a voice in relation to the development of this very wide-ranging technology.

Dr Parr argues that the implications of the findings of Nanojury reach far into not just science and innovation policy in UK, but also the political model of economic resource deployment which underpins the technology commercialisation process.

Summary

NanoJury UK has brought together 15 randomly-chosen people from different backgrounds in a particular region of the UK, to hear evidence about a wide range of possible futures, and the role that nanotechnologies might play in them.

The jury has sought to provide a vehicle for people's views on nanotechnologies to have an impact on policy. It has allowed a dialogue between people with diverse perspectives and interests, and created a democratic space in which citizens can examine the hopes, aspirations, assumptions and fears of those working to develop and regulate nanotechnologies.

Summary

This report focuses on the event at which jurors from the West Yorkshire Community Jury reported their preliminary recommendations for discussion by a range of groups representing a broad range of interests in the UK and beyond.

Summary

An independent citizen's jury has delivered its verdict on nanotechnology after five weeks debating the emerging technology. NanoJury UK has called for greater public say and increased clarity as well as more emphasis on health, equity and environmental protection when developing the technology.