ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the development of the recent programme of interventions in the science-society relationship in the UK, in the context of an evolving commercial environment for science and technology. It characterises the potentially confl icting trajectories of these, and identifi es tensions in the present position, in which private companies are being encouraged to undertake public engagement-a process potentially at odds with traditional methods of PR and marketing. These tensions were explored in the RSA Forum for Technology, Citizens and the Market, a project that looked at ways of encouraging social learning in industry, to facilitate the development of welcome and benefi cial applications of new technology. The Forum undertook a series of qualitative interviews with marketing and research staff in science-based companies operating in the UK. These interviews revealed a broad range of attitudes to engagement with the public, ranging from strong advocacy, via indifference to any kind of public engagement except where it could be confl ated with traditional public relations, to active rejection for various reasons including reputational risk and lack of the necessary resources.
