Constructing the scientific citizen: science and democracy in the biosciences

The relationship between science policy and public opinion has become a liv ely topic in the UK-especially with regard to the BSE crisis and geneticall y modified foods. A number of governmental publications have recently advoc ated greater public dialogue and engagement. In this general context, the p aper explores the configuration of scientific citizenship and of the scient ific citizen within policy and consultation processes. Building upon a deta iled examination of one important social experiment-the Public Consultation on Developments in the Biosciences-the social construction of both science and public consultation is considered. With particular attention to the fr aming of issues for public debate, the constitution of audience and the con struction of citizenship, the paper argues the need to move beyond mere slo ganizing over science and democracy. The discussion concludes with a presen tation of competing technologies of community and an assessment of their si gnificance for the future practice of scientific citizenship.