ABSTRACT
According to William Gilbert, pioneering researcher into electricity and magnetism in the 17th century, a discussion with the public on science and technology was like listening to ‘the maunderings of a babbling hag’ (Anon. 2004). While this view may still be shared by a few today, by and large there has been a shift in the role and place of publics in discussions about science and technology. This chapter explores the landscape of public engagement and dialogue, and raises further questions about what these changes may mean for the place of science and technology in society.
