This article argues a need for academics and governments attempting to “engage in engagement” to be clear about their goals and desired outcomes, and to consider whether or not the processes they facilitate are likely to meet these ends.

Specifically: what are the goals—explicit and implicit—of institutionally sponsored projects that aim to engage lay citizens in science and technology? Are those exercises likely to meet their goals? What kinds of processes could nurture more meaningful engagement, what are the barriers to this kind of engagement, and how might these barriers be overcome? Based on the authors´ experiences at a nanotechnology conference that included a “public forum”, this article explores these questions and provides recommendations for more meaningful engagement of citizens.

Full citation: Powell, M. C., & Colin, M. (2008). Meaningful Citizen Engagement in Science and Technology : What Would it Really Take? Science Communication, 30, 126-136