Annex 3: Dialogue in an International Context

United Kingdom

• The UK Government has undertaken and funded a number of significant dialogue projects with the public. The 2003 GM Nation dialogue consisted of 675 dialogue meetings across the UK attended by 20,000 people, a website which received 2.9 million hits in six weeks, and 36,557 submissions.
• The Government has established The Nanotechnology Engagement Group (NEG) to involve the public in the development of nanotechnologies.

Switzerland

• The Centre for Technology Assessment provides independent information on the potential risks and repercussions of new technologies and undertakes dialogue between the public and the scientific community.

Denmark

• The Danish Board of Technology disseminated knowledge about new and emerging technologies and undertakes regular dialogue with the public on such issues as stem cells, GM crops, and attitudes towards nanotechnology.

Canada

• The Canadian Government in 2000 funded the Canadian Public Health Association to conduct a large scale public dialogue on the issue of xenotransplantation.

Australia

• In 2003/04 the Australian Government funded a nationwide public dialogue process into xenotransplantation.
• 2005 The Federal Government is undertaking a nationwide consultation on stem cells.

Holland

• The Dutch Parliamentary Technology Assessment Organisation conducts regular consensus conferences on technology related issues.

South Africa

• The Programme of the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) aims to ‘promote clear understanding of the potential of biotechnology and to ensure broad public awareness, dialogue and debate’.

[ Previous Page | Next Page ]