Involving people in policy development: A conference view Wendy Kenyon* and Carol Hunsberger Macaulay Institute, Scotland * Macaulay Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH, Scotland. w.kenyon@macaulay.ac.uk Abstract The paper reports on a workshop involving 120 people that addressed the effectiveness of public participation in policy development. The HAP method used in the workshop is briefly reviewed followed by a discussion of positive aspects of participation in policy development (as identified by conference participants). The most popular positive comments made by participants were that some participation does exist especially in a democratic society. In addition, participants identified the positive role of the media, the demand by the public to be involved and the evolving nature of participatory methods as important in how effectively the public are involved in policy development. Negative aspects identified included the lack of examples of ‘full involvement’, the abuse of participation, problems related to representation and lack of institutionalisation of participation. Potential solutions to the negative issues, identified by participants, are discussed and a transcription of the final action plan, focussing in institutionalisation of participation in future, is set out. 1. Introduction It has been widely recognised within NGO, academic and policy circles that deliberation of science-based issues is no longer the exclusive realm of politicians and scientific experts but requires new participatory institutional structures for involving a wide range of actors and the public (e.g. Irwin and Wynn, 1996; Renn, 2001). The PATH project and conference aimed to contribute to the exchange of knowledge between practitioners, researchers and policy-makers in order to create more robust and multifaceted knowledge and synergy in developing effective participation. One of the stated aims of the PATH project was to develop a network of policy- makers, stakeholders (e.g. from industry and NGOs), academics and members of civic society to exchange knowledge and experience of deliberation in science and technology policy development. Further, the project aimed to use this network to analyse the conditions under which existing methods are successful in facilitating dialogue between scientists, policy-makers and the public, and to develop innovative means to improve policy development. The project explored how participatory deliberative and inclusive methods in science-based policy could be advanced within the European Union to establish consultative institutions in policy-making processes. 120 members of this network met at the PATH conference in Edinburgh in June 2006. The experience and expertise of the network was directed towards these issues during the plenary workshop, were all conference participants used the H-form and action planning approach (HAP) to considered the question “How effectively are the public involved in policy development?” This paper sets out the results of those deliberations and the final action plan derived from the workshop. 1