Public Participation in the Setting of Research and Innovation Agenda: Virtues and Challenges from a Philosophical Perspective

Inclusiveness in scientific research and innovation is more and more valued by many scientific institutions, as attested by the increasing visibility and displayed institutional support in favour of “citizen science”, “participatory science” and other forms of science involving in one way or another lay people. Could science benefit from being more inclusive and, in turn, could society benefit from a more inclusive science? The general aim of this chapter is to investigate how public participation may challenge and renew traditional epistemological and organisational features of scientific research, thereby providing a basis to assess the merits of public participation in this sphere. It will in particular offer epistemological arguments disqualifying common sources of resistance to public participation and discuss pending issues that need to be addressed if one wants to make a strong case in favour of public participation in science. In doing so, the chapter will (hopefully) contribute to going beyond an isolationist, decontextualised view of scientific developments and redefine the role that society is expected to play in new models of scientific research and innovation aiming at a better alignment of its outputs with society needs and interests.