Jack Stilgoe
Senior Researcher
Jack Stilgoe works on science and technology projects and specialises in issues of science, society and public engagement.
- Mobilising Public Services A couple of weeks back, we hosted a fascinating seminar for O2 on the possibilities for using mobile phones in public services. A couple of years back, this kind of talk was everywhere. Mobiles would, along with the rest of the e-government movement, transform the way that we interacted with the public sphere. So what happened?I've written a summary of the event for anyone who came, or for those who are interested. The message is, we're going places, but we're still a long way from New York's... continue reading on 10th November 2005
- nanoscientists-meet-nanopublics Saturdays at the Natural History Museum are full of children and dinosaurs. But we found a way through to hold the first ever nanoscientists-meet-nanopublics workshop, as part of our work on public engagement with science. We had 12 members of the Great British Public and 12 extremely engaging nanoscientists - from PhDs to professors - talking about the possibilities and concerns of nano. The GBP had all been through focus groups that our colleagues at Lancaster ran earlier this year. Our... continue reading on 7th November 2005 in The Nanodialogues
- Fat fighters One expert told the assembled gang, all of whom could proudly see their own shoes, that we already knew what the answer is ? less energy in, more energy out. I?m still not sure what the question is. And if the answer is so easy, why isn?t it working? Why is Britain getting so fat so quickly? I learnt a huge amount about trends, models, causes and cures over the day. But the only real insight came from a Lisa Doherty, who works for an organisation called TOAST (The Obesity Awareness and... continue reading on 2nd November 2005
- Social Software Solution Seeks Problem I like this, but I don't know why. Frappr lets you add groups to google maps. Any suggestions as to how we could use it at Demos? I was thinking it would be a good way of representing who we work with around the world. But I think it needs bottom-up commitment. Maybe we could get our Email subscribers to place themselves? Any more ideas welcome. continue reading on 26th October 2005
- Ideas go walkabout The morning was crammed with speakers. Charlie Leadbeater's introduction told the story of change. New things are happening abroad, as they always have, and we can see them as a threat or an opportunity. Charlie gave a very personal account of his time at labs in India and China, where scientists and businesses are rapidly changing the rules of the game. He reminded us that the Government knee-jerk was towards rhetorical protectionism. Up stepped Lord Sainsbury, trying to make our economic... continue reading on 12th October 2005
- Precautionary tales Demos associate James Harkin had a interesting thing in Saturday's Guardian. He sketches the idea of the precautionary principle, "better safe than sorry" at its dullest, and stretches it to the war in Iraq. Big Don's "unknown unknowns", a phrase he borrowed from environmental and science policy, were used to justify action when inaction might have had serious consequences, had the US's worst suspicions been confirmed.In science, the precautionary principle is a useful way of justifying... continue reading on 25th September 2005
- More on Public Value and Science The good folk over at Involve (an organisation which has recently sprung from the loins of the Environment Council) have also commented on our science pamphlet. In particular, they support our idea of a broader social learning centre for understanding and discussing science and society. We called this a "commission for emerging technologies and society." Involve are running a fascinating thing called the Nanotechnology Engagement Group, a large step in the right direction for cementing public... continue reading on 12th September 2005 in The Nanodialogues
- valuing engaged science The AS have a great system of involving those who care for Alzheimer's patients in decisions about science. This has had a few beneficial effects. It eases the carers' burden of dealing with the disease, it engages them in trusting relationships with doctors and scientists, it prompts new areas of research and it reconnects scientists with their original motivations. This form of public engagement has also given the AS a unique voice in debates of public importance, such as with the recent... continue reading on 6th September 2005
- It's not rocket science Yesterday took me to Nottingham for a debate on nanotechnology-"Radical science or plus se change?". Turns out, it's somewhere in between. The event was a showdown between the quiet voices of British reason (represented by Richard Jones and Saul Tendler) and the simulated braggadocio of the American molecular manufacturing movement. Drawing on the dreams of Drexler (of "Gray goo" and desktop nanofactory fame), the Americans presented some animations showing the tiny insides of atom assemblers.... continue reading on 25th August 2005 in The Nanodialogues
- Science, Democracy and Public Value event, 13th September Biology and politics are converging. Rapid advances in the life sciences are intensifying public and policy debates about genetic modification, cloning, stem cells and human enhancement. Less noticed, but no less important, are the rifts that have opened up between different countries about the right way to govern innovation in genetics and biotechnology. Sheila Jasanoff is the Pforzheimer Professor of Science and Technology Studies at Harvard University. In Designs on Nature, she provides a... continue reading on 26th July 2005 in The Nanodialogues