How to design and organize a public deliberation project

Gy LarsenIda-Elisabeth Larsen

The Danish Board of Technology

How to design and organize a public deliberation project

• Structure of presentation– What kind of issue/problem? – – What role is the project going to play? –

Purposes?– How to select an issue?– Who are going to be involved?– What kind of methodology is possible

and/or necessary?

Technology means:

• engineering and technics – and - • conditions surrounding their

application. Ideally then • a solution to a problem. solves more problems than it creates.

Issues - examples

• New applications to gene technology – new gene plants

• Toxicology and Nanotechnology• Sustainable urban living• Surveillance• Energy system – future development• Brain Science – new development and

uses

Proactive – Reactive TA

• upcoming technology

• regulation of technology

• dissemintation and wider use of technology

3 dimensions of policy analysis

Decision-makers; Networks; Citizens / Transparent procedures

Create legitimate and accepted solutions

Pragmatic

Citizens; Stakeholders / Networking; Social learning

Uncover and share norms and values

Normative

Experts; Users / Operative aims

Establish knowledge-base; suggest knowledge based solutions

Cognitive

Actors / functionsMethod demandDimension

How to select an issue

• Technological content• Problem, conflict and need of

decisions• Essential for many people or for a

segment• Topical – timing• Target group• The Board 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.

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Technology Bioethanol, biodiesel, methanol, methan, hydrogen – espescially new advanced technologies for production of biofuels are alternatives.

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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.

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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.

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Aimed at Research and fiscal area, politicians in the fields of traffic, energy and environment

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Relevance for the Board

Existing and new knowledge about the topic must be found and communicated to dcisionmakers Den eksisterende (især den nyeste) viden om emnet skal samles og videreformidles til beslutningstagerne, så debatten kan komme op på et højere niveau.

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Total rating   8

Who should be involved?

• Is new knowledge and solutions needed?• Do we know too little about public opinion?• Is it time for new agenda setting?• 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

Experts

Stake-holders

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 perspective on technology

Democratic dimension

• Expert have to communicate with and not only to citizens

• There is a worry in society to deal with

• Interaction between citizens and the representative democracy

• New knowledge to stakeholders from citizens on controversial matters

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

Repre-sentativity

Sample represents population (demogr. – attitudes)

•Is accepted•Can be compared with other studies or elections

•Very big group•very expensive•Difficult to ”handle”

Mixed

Example – ConsensusConference

Define criteria –compose a group

Variety, broad group all kinds of peopleAny size you want

Possible to cheatInterested thank yes – but..

Balanced

Example – Scenario Workshop

Equal repr. Of involved interests

•Pol. relevant debate•Room for views which use to be marginalized or out

•Positions have to be defined/accept• riscs of hidden agreements – social partnering

Type of Participation – role of participants – method example

Participation Type

Role of participant

Role projectlead

Method ex.

Survey/ interviews

Source of information

Researcher Choice quiestionnaire

Deliberativesurvey

Evaluator”voice”

Organizer/analyst

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 TARaisingKnowledge

FormingAttitudes

InitialisingAction

Tech/ScienceAspects

ScientificAssessment(options,con-sequences)

Agenda setting(influence and stimulate public debate,Introduce visions etc.)

Reframing of debate(propose new initiatives – find new orientation)

SocialAspects

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 innovationsNew 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• Forget to involve some important actors• A mistake to avoid the critical voices