Permalink : http://hdl.handle.net/2115/39297

JaLCDOI : 10.14943/38449

KEYWORDS : nanotechnologies;applications in food;upstream engagement;NanoTRI;consensus conference;citizen panel;group interview;science cafe

This paper explores deliberative methods for the general public and experts to have meaningful dialogue and evaluate future technologies at the early stage of their scientific and technological development (upstream engagement). For this purpose, we planned and conducted an experimental dialogue event on the theme of applications of nanotechnologies in food. The event, named NanoTRI, consisted of three types of deliberative methods: consensus conference, group interview, and science cafe. Through this experiment we found that, by utilizing consensus conference and other deliberative methods, it is possible to incorporate various aspects of public values in decision making on nanotechnologies. We also found that a session without experts, group interviewing, is quite useful for seeking frank opinions of the participants while the other two methods are more suitable for provision of information or formation of definite opinions.