Governance of New and Emerging Science and Technology

Are actual and projected scientific and technological developments governable? The answer to this question has to be an ambivalent ‘yes and no’. If one thinks of governing as intentional and driven from a centre, the answer is no. But when one gives up on this illusion, there is a lot that can be done. This is what I will address in this chapter, also building on our experience with constructive technology assessment of nanotechnology (Rip et al, 1995; Schot and, Rip 1997; Rip, 2007).