Adapting the Internet to citizen deliberations: lessons learned

Abstract

This paper reviews a research project involving two versions of the Danish consensus conference conducted at North Carolina State University in 2001. One version was conducted in the usual, face-to-face mode, while the other version was conducted entirely on the Internet-the first consensus conference conducted via the Internet. The paper discusses the importance of public deliberations in making public policy about science and technology, the organization and implementation of the Citizens Technology Forum, and some lessons learned from the experience.