From John Dewey to Jurgen Habermas, social theorists have examined the tension between democracy and science and the ways in which effective public deliberation, coupled with effective scientific analysis, might enhance our ability to establish sustainable social formations. The problem is particularly acute around issues of environment because the science there is always complex and uncertain and diverse public values are always engaged. There is a growing body of empirical as well as theoretical work on this subject. MSU has many faculty who work on public participation and public management of natural resources. See the faculty directory at www.environment.msu.edu.

Tom Dietz is currently chairing a U.S. National Research Council Panel on Public Participation in Environmental Assessment and Decision Making that will summarize the literature in this area and make recommendations for both further research and for the practice of federal agencies.

We are compiling a bibliography of research on public participation. The current version is available at www.dietzkalof.org.