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The genetically modified crop controversies in Britain between 1997 and 2004 involved tensions surrounding the role of science in policy. The author of the paper was a member of the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission, a novel government advisory body created in 2000, which played a central role in negotiating new policy frameworks. The commission was also a key influence in the creation and execution of the three-pronged official 'GM dialogue' in 2002 and 2003. New understandings of 'uncertainty', both scientific and social, emerged as a result. The outcomes have relevance for the future political handling of other technological fields, including human genetics.

Discusses May 1999 establishment of the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission (AEBC), and the Human Genetics Commission (HGC); background, challenges, and policy implications; Great Britain.

The need for a new approach to social science research on environmental problems is examined. In the comtemporary era of proliferating cultural tensions, environmental policymakers must possess culturally contextualized information to make policy decisions. Unfortunately, the domination of positivism & reductionism in government-funded social science research & policy analysis is ill-suited for generations of realistic & sensitive social knowledge, & can exacerbate cultural tensions &, ultimately, environmental conflicts. Examples of the kinds of problems that can occur when governments rely solely on social science research that pays inadequate attention to the cultural dimensions of environmental conflicts are provided: (1) the capital costs of nuclear power; (2) the social impacts of biotechnology; & (3) the public understanding of sustainability. Social science must reexamine not only theoretical & methodological issues, but also the institutionalization of its research. 50 References. D. Generoli