Public participation and scientific culture

Upon the basis of the political evolution of contemporary societies and the new social role assumed in them by science and technology, this contribution essays a critical examination of the relationship between scientific literacy and public participation. New opportunities are identified along the road of promoting democracy in scientific matters, among them and particularly the so-called "formative participation" - a new form of citizen participation closely related to the consolidation of the "knowledge society" and recent advances of social activism in public affairs involving science and technology.