www.demos.co.uk/projects/scienceinnovation/
Most polling indicates that there is general support for space exploration across Europe. Yet space faces a public engagement challenge of its own: how to broaden and deepen these rather diffuse expressions of public support into a more meaningful engagement with the longer-term potential of space exploration. As the European Space Agency gears up for the start of its 20-year Aurora programme of exploration, it has asked Demos to organise a citizens' jury on the future of Europe in space.
RAeS Space Group Chairman Pat Norris (with yellow badge) giving evidence.
Ken Pounds (right) and Pat Norris debate the merits of human spaceflight.
A Citizens' Jury on Space Exploration
02-04 March 2006
Dana Centre, Science Museum, London
Citizens' juries began in the 1970s in Germany and the USA as a novel method of engagement between experts, decision-makers and the public around issues of public interest. In the late 1990s, several groups in Britain began using citizens' juries as a way of confronting public issues involving multiple interests, uncertainties and concerns. In the last decade, over 100 citizens' juries have taken place in Britain on topics as varied as waste disposal, educational reform, GM foods and genetic testing.
As part of its consultation with stakeholders on Europe’s strategy for space exploration, the European Space Agency (ESA) is organising a series of citizens' juries in ESA member states to foster open dialogue with the public. Organised by the left-wing think tank Demos, the UK jury is the first of these to take place.
ESA is asking the citizens' jury to discuss and offer insights and recommendations about Europe's strategy for space exploration in the next 30 years. The jury will not vote on or choose between key elements of space strategy, but rather give a flavour of how ordinary citizens will respond to the possibilities and potential of space exploration. The format consists of two days of witness sessions, in which witnesses talk briefly about their experience and opinions. The jury has the assistance of a real-time researcher, who can help them to learn more about issues as they come up.
The witnesses summoned to give evidence included the Director General of the UK's space agency, the British National Space Centre, scientist Colin Pillinger of Mars Beagle 2 fame, author and broadcaster Marina Benjamin, former Chief Executive of the Particle Physics & Astronomy Research Council Ken Pounds, and the Chairman of the RAeS Space Group, Pat Norris.
Pat Norris described to the jury the consultation exercise that the RAeS Space Group is undertaking on the role of humans in space exploration – see "Aerospace Professional" March 2006 p4 and December 2005 pp14-16. While Ken Pounds argued that detailed scientific exploration of the moon required a human presence, Pat Norris argued that remote control of robotic instruments from earth would be more cost effective. Pat further argued that human trips to Mars were so far in the future that it was premature to decide if humans were an essential element of scientific exploration of Mars. The motivation for humans to visit the moon and Mars was driven by the "tourist" impulse, Pat concluded. Taking an opposing view, Ken Pounds argued forcefully that a human presence was an essential element of exploration, thus leaving the jury with contrasting views on this emotive subject.
The jury's conclusions will form part of a final report, which will be launched in June 2006. In addition, a short film will be made of the jury process.