title: Identifying the science and technology dimensions of emerging public policy issues through horizon scanning.
abstract: Public policy requires public support, which in turn implies a need to enable the public not just to understand policy but also to be engaged in its development. Where complex science and technology issues are involved in policy making, this takes time, so it is important to identify emerging issues of this type and prepare engagement plans. In our horizon scanning exercise, we used a modified Delphi technique. A wide group of people with interests in the science and policy interface (drawn from policy makers, policy adviser, practitioners, the private sector and academics) elicited a long list of emergent policy issues in which science and technology would feature strongly and which would also necessitate public engagement as policies are developed. This was then refined to a short list of top priorities for policy makers. Thirty issues were identified within broad areas of business and technology; energy and environment; government, politics and education; health, healthcare, population and aging; information, communication, infrastructure and transport; and public safety and national security.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Science and Policy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Miles
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authors.affiliation: Sciencewise, Harwell, Didcot, United Kingdom.
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authors.lastname: Acland
authors.affiliation: The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Harry J
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authors.affiliation: School of the Physical Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
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authors.lastname: Bellingham
authors.affiliation: Nesta, London, United Kingdom.
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authors.lastname: Bland
authors.affiliation: Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, London, United Kingdom.
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authors.initials: S
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authors.affiliation: Science, Society and Sustainability (3S) Group, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom.
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authors.lastname: Chilvers
authors.affiliation: Centre for Science and Policy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
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authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Cleevely
authors.affiliation: Clare Hall, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David
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authors.lastname: Cope
authors.affiliation: Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lucia
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authors.lastname: Costanzo
authors.affiliation: NanoDTC, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dolan
authors.affiliation: Centre for Science and Policy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Robert
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authors.lastname: Doubleday
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Wai Yi
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authors.affiliation: Oxford Martin Programme on the Future of Food, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: H Charles J
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Godfray
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
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authors.affiliation: RAND Europe, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
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authors.lastname: Grant
authors.affiliation: The Royal Society, London, United Kingdom.
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authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Arnoud J
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authors.affiliation: Centre for Science and Policy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
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authors.initials: TT
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authors.affiliation: Public Health England, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sunjai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Amanda C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: Pfizer Ltd, Kent, United Kingdom.
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authors.affiliation: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, London, United Kingdom.
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authors.affiliation: Natural England, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Gary
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authors.lastname: Kass
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Tim
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authors.lastname: Leeder
authors.affiliation: Cranfield University, Cranfield, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Fiona A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Lickorish
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Leila M
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authors.lastname: Lueshi
authors.affiliation: Understanding Animal Research, London, United Kingdom.
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authors.lastname: Magee
authors.affiliation: Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Tiago
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authors.lastname: Mata
authors.affiliation: The Royal Society, London, United Kingdom.
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authors.lastname: McBride
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authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.affiliation: Sciencewise, Harwell, Didcot, United Kingdom.
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authors.lastname: Mercer
authors.affiliation: Cabinet Office, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ross
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authors.lastname: Neilson
authors.affiliation: Centre for Science and Policy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
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authors.affiliation: Cambridge Centre for Climate Change Mitigation Research (4CMR), Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
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authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Oughton
authors.affiliation: Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Salisbury, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David
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authors.lastname: Oxenham
authors.affiliation: Science, Society and Sustainability (3S) Group, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Helen
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authors.lastname: Pallett
authors.affiliation: Keble College, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: James
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authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.affiliation: Pembroke College, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
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authors.affiliation: University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
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authors.lastname: Petts
authors.affiliation: Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jan
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authors.affiliation: The Royal Academy of Engineering, London, United Kingdom.
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authors.affiliation: Home Office, London, United Kingdom.
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authors.lastname: Pratt
authors.affiliation: Cranfield University, Cranfield, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sophie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rocks
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Defence, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Neil
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authors.lastname: Stansfield
authors.affiliation: Government Office for Science, London, United Kingdom.
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authors.lastname: Surkovic
authors.affiliation: Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, London, United Kingdom.
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authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Tyler
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom.
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authors.lastname: Watkinson
authors.affiliation: Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, London, United Kingdom.
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authors.lastname: Wentworth
authors.affiliation: Green Alliance, London, United Kingdom.
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authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Wollner
authors.affiliation: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, London, United Kingdom.
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authors.lastname: Worts
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
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authors.lastname: Sutherland
mesh_terms: D057231:Climate Change; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003657:Decision Making; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D003697:Delphi Technique; D003710:Demography; D004777:Environment; D006076:Government; D006801:Humans; D062069:Inventions; D008017:Life Expectancy; D011050:Policy Making; D011057:Politics; D011157:Population Dynamics; D017149:Private Sector; D011640:Public Policy / Q000639:trends*; D040841:Resource Allocation; D012586:Science / Q000639:trends*; D013672:Technology / Q000639:trends*