ABSTRACT
The science court was formulated by a task force of a committee advisory to President Ford. This task force suggested that a public meeting be held at which opinions for and against the science court experiment could be aired. This chapter explores the feasibility of a 'Science Court,' to help arrange public discussions of controversial scientific issues. The most demanding prerequisite for the effective regulation of industrial technology is the creation of expertise external to the industry comparable to the internal expertise. The frankness rule applies, however, only to communications within the scientific community. Any scientist who addresses the public or lay officials on scientific facts bearing on public policy matters should stand ready to publicly answer the questions not only of laymen but of expert adversaries. Regulatory agencies offer scientific recruits an opportunity to criticize and to exert power by influencing public policy.
