ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses three of the most important limitations on attempts to engage the public in emergent technologies. First, despite the critique of the public understanding of science (PUS) and deficit model, it is still likely that the highly technical and complex nature of the information available may make it difficult for citizens to make reasonable assessments about the merits and disadvantages of certain proposals. Second, in undertaking public engagement, a major question arises about whom to engage: the whole population or representative samples. Thirdly, any engagement procedure must anticipate the possibility of rejection, or only obtaining conditional and limited approval. Involving members of the public in upstream engagement about emerging technologies in the energy field is particularly challenging. The case study of hydrogen energy technologies discussed here indicates some of the important constraints on upstream public engagement where the technology is still embryonic or nascent.
