Citizen participation in the public policy issues involving acoustical science and technology

Abstract

Citizen participation in scientific and technological decision making has only recently been recognized as an essential ingredient of the overall democratic governmental process, affecting millions of people in this country and abroad. Examples of significant national debates involving bureaucrats, professionals and public at large during the nineteen seventies on such major issues as nuclear power, DNA research and environmental pollution, provide the basis for similar dialogues in the future on other science and technology activities of regional and national concern, impact or controversy. Among these new candidates is the one involving acoustical science and technology. This paper attempts to identify and analyze those controversial programs and activities within the acoustics field that might have significant impact on the present and future course of governmental decision-making process. In addition, the author proposes a few models/mechanisms that might help facilitate intelligent and constructive dialog between the nontechnical community on one side and scientific/technological community on the other, hopefully resulting in realistic, acceptable, and manageable decisions at all levels of public/government interactions. The two acoustical science and technology areas specifically discussed are environmental/occupational noise and medical ultrasonics vis-a-vis their associated public policy issues of health, welfare, and safety.