Identifying the science and technology dimensions of emerging public policy issues through horizon scanning
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Acland, Andrew
Armstrong, Harry J.
Bellingham, Jim R.
Bland, Jessica
Bodmer, Helen C.
Burall, Simon
Castell, Sarah
Chilvers, Jason
Cleevely, David D.
Cope, David
Costanzo, Lucia
Dolan, James A.
Doubleday, Robert
Feng, Wai Yi
Godfray, H. Charles J.
Good, David A.
Grant, Jonathan
Green, Nick
Groen, Arnoud J.
Guilliams, Tim T.
Gupta, Sunjai
Hall, Amanda C.
Heathfield, Adam
Hotopp, Ulrike
Kass, Gary
Leeder, Tim
Lickorish, Fiona A.
Lueshi, Leila M.
Magee, Chris
Mata, Tiago
McBride, Tony
McCarthy, Natasha
Mercer, Alan
Neilson, Ross
Ouchikh, Jackie
Oughton, Edward J.
Oxenham, David
Pallett, Helen
Palmer, James
Patmore, Jeff
Petts, Judith
Pinkerton, Jan
Ploszek, Richard
Pratt, Alan
Rocks, Sophie A.
Stansfield, Neil
Surkovic, Elizabeth
Tyler, Christopher P.
Watkinson, Andrew R.
Wentworth, Jonny
Willis, Rebecca
Wollner, Patrick K. A.
Worts, Kim
Sutherland, William J.
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Abstract
Public policy requires public support, which in turn implies a need to enable the public not just to understand policy but also to be engaged in its development. Where complex science and technology issues are involved in policy making, this takes time, so it is important to identify emerging issues of this type and prepare engagement plans. In our horizon scanning exercise, we used a modified Delphi technique [1]. A wide group of people with interests in the science and policy interface (drawn from policy makers, policy adviser, practitioners, the private sector and academics) elicited a long list of emergent policy issues in which science and technology would feature strongly and which would also necessitate public engagement as policies are developed. This was then refined to a short list of top priorities for policy makers. Thirty issues were identified within broad areas of business and technology; energy and environment; government, politics and education; health, healthcare, population and aging; information, communication, infrastructure and transport; and public safety and national security.