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WORKING GROUP I.b: Democratising
expertise and establishing European scientific references
Be
it genetically modified food, nuclear waste management or medical
advances, science and technology are shaping our lives. However,
such developments appear to evade political control. Science and
technology are playing an ever more important role in public policies
: they are at the heart of commercial negotiations, provoke different
approaches to sustainable development, and have a far-reaching ethical
dimension. But " science does not think "! While Europeans are demanding
more involvement in decisions that concern them, the answers on
scientific issues are given by a scientific elite. So how can we
make scientific expertise more democratic and enable citizens to
participate in public decision-making process touching on scientific
issues ?
This working group has proposed procedures for a meaningful dialogue
between experts and citizens in areas where scientific evidence
is a key component of policy decisions.
Authors
The
working group was chaired by Rainer Gerold.
Rainer Gerold is in charge
of the directorate "Science and Society". He has been working for
the European Commission's Directorate General 'Science, Research
and Development' since 1982. He was director responsible for budget
and personnel and research contracts until 1992. He then worked
until 1998 as the director for co-operation with third countries
and international organisations. In 1999 and 2000 he led the directorate
'Life Sciences I'.
Rainer Gerold studied law and economics at the University of Bonn
and obtained his PhD in international law. He worked at the Oberlandesgericht
(regional court of appeal) in Cologne from 1965 to 1969. In 1970
he joined the Federal Ministry for Research and Technology in Bonn
where he became assistant to the State Secretary (1972-1974). In
1974 he moved to CERN in Geneva to take up a position as assistant
to the Director General, Sir John Adams, while at the same time
fulfilling the role of secretary of the CERN directorate. In 1978
he became administrative director of the GSF (National Research
Centre for Environment and Health) in Munich and remained there
until 1982, when he moved to the European Commission.
Members of the group:
L. MITEK-PEDERSEN (Secretariat General), M. SHOTTER et F. FRANCA
(Legal Service), R. HURST (Research and Development), S. FUNTOWICZ,
R. MIÈGE (Joint Research Center), G. SEIWALD, B. BURTIN (Agriculture),
D. HUGHES (Education and Culture), P. WAGSTAFFE (Health and Consumer
Protection), Mme C. COTTER (Enterprise), M. G. BUSINI (Environment),
Mme C. FALLON (Employment) and N. LEBESSIS from the Governance team.
The report was written by: A. LIBERATORE
Member of the Governance team in charge of the group: Notis
LEBESSIS
Best Practice :
Several national parliaments
in Europe have initiated initiated citizens' conferences, which
bring together citizens and experts to arrive at an informed judgement
of scientific subjects that are of concern for them.
Contributions :
"Science and Governance
in a Knowledge Society: The Challenge for Europa"  [43KB]
Book Review: "The Management
of Uncertainty: Learning from Chernobyl", Angela Liberatore
[20KB]
Links :
The
role of expertise in European policy-making and public debate
- questionnaire
This crisis of confidence in science is the subject of the report
"Science and Technology" by
the British House of Lords
"Colloque international Science et Société" organised
by the University of Sorbonne and the French Research Ministry 
Risk
Governance in Europe |
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