Democratizing Technology

Focusing on the most widespread and pervasive technology - chemicals - this groundbreaking volume peels apart the critical technology debate to look at the relationship between humans, technology and the biological world. It answers questions such as: what is technology? How do humans use it to build and modify the world? What are the relationships between technology, science, economics and democratic governance? What, if any, are our ethical and political responsibilities and choices in how we develop, deploy and control technology in democratic states? Attention is also given to the immensely important new EU chemical regulations, REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals), the EU's largest ever legal framework, discussing the problems that are likely to occur in REACH's reliance on risk assessment methods and suggesting an alternative way forward for the regulation of chemicals. This volume is a breath of fresh air, providing much needed clarity and insight into the heart of the science and technology debates that are key to academic study, risk analysis and mitigation, as well as the domestic and international law, regulation and policy that govern all aspects of our relationship with the human and biological worlds.