Profile

Brian Wynne is Professor of Science Studies at CSEC and at the ESRC Centre for Economic and Social Aspects of Genomics (CESAGen).

His education includes MA (Natural Sciences, Cambridge 1968), PhD (Materials Science, Cambridge 1971), MPhil (Sociology of Science, Edinburgh 1977). His work has covered technology and risk assessment, public risk perceptions, and public understanding of science, focusing on the relations between expert and lay knowledge and policy decision-making. He was an Inaugural Member of the Management Board and Scientific Committee of the European Environment Agency, (EEA), (1994-2000) and a Special Adviser to the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee Inquiry into Science and Society, (March 2000). He is also a member of the London Royal Society's Committee on Science in Society.

Research Interests

• Technology and risk assessment
• Public risk perceptions
• Public understanding of science, focusing on the relations between expert and lay knowledge and policy decision-making

Additional Information

Selected publications

B.Wynne, 'Reflexing Complexity: Post-Genomic Knowledge and Reductionist Returns in Public Science', Theory Culture and Society, Vol. 22, Number 5 October 2005.

B. Wynne, "Risky Delusions: How GM Science has imagined - and provoked - its publics", Iain Taylor and Katherine Barrett (Eds) Genetically Engineered Crops: Decision-making under Uncertainty, UBC Press, Canada

B. Wynne, James Wilsdon and Jack Stilgoe, (2005), The Public Value of Science, London, Demos. Copy pdf available at Demos website.

P. Macnaghten, M. Kearnes and B. Wynne (2005) "Nanotechnology, Governance and Public Deliberation: What Role for the Social Sciences?", Science Communication, Vol 27: 2. Copy pdf available at Sage Journals online.

D. Winickoff, S. Jasanoff, L. Busch, R. Grove-White and B. Wynne (2005) "Adjudicating the GM Food Wars: Science, Risk and Democracy in World Trade Law", The Yale Journal of International Law, Vol 30:81. Copy available by subscription at The Yale Journal website.

Kamara, M. and Coff, C. (with B. Wynne) (2006) "GMOs and Sustainability - Contested Visions, Routes and Drivers" Final report prepared for the Danish Council of Ethics, Copenhagen, August 2006.

M. Kearnes, P. Macnaghten and J. Wilsdon (with Afterward by B. Wynne) (2006) "Governing at the Nanoscale: People, Policies and Emerging Technologies", London, Demos. Copy pdf available at Demos website.

B. Wynne (2006) "Public Engagement as a Means of Restoring Public Trust in Science - Hitting the Notes, but Missing the Music?". Community Genetics, Vol 9: 3, pp 211-220. Pay per view online access at Karger website.

B. Wynne (2007) "Risky Delusions: Misunderstanding Science and Misperforming Publics in the GE Crops Issue" in (I. E. P. Taylor ed.) Genetically Engineered Crops: Interim Policies, Uncertain Legislation, Haworth Press.

Wynne, B. and Felt, U. (2007) Taking European Knowledge Society Seriously, Chair and Rapporteur, Expert Group on Science and Governance, Brussels, European Commission D-G Research, Science Economy and Society Directorate. EUR 22700.

• Lost in Translation: Cross - disciplinary analysis of knowledge exchange and effectiveness in animal disease management

  01/07/2008 → 30/11/2011
  Objectives The aim of this project is to develop more integrated strategies of containment for animal disease through a cross-disciplinary research team bringing together expertise in public health, ... Read more»

• UK-China Networks of Low Carbon Innovation

  01/07/2007 → 30/04/2010
  Tackling climate change is demanding international collaboration in innovation, yet there are significant constraints on such collaborations. This project is examining low carbon partnerships between ... Read more»

• Taxonomy at a Crossroads: Science, Policy and Publics in Biodiversity

  01/07/2006 → 30/06/2009
  "Taxonomy at a Crossroads: Science, Publics and Policy in Biodiversity" is a 3 year interdisciplinary research project which brings together social and natural scientists to explore contemporary innov ... Read more»

• Social Processes for Environmental Valuation

  01/06/1996 → 31/05/1998
  This project has now finished, running from June 1996 to May 1998. It involved researchers from the UK, France, Italy and Spain. Its purpose was to demonstrate effective methods for valuation of envir ... Read more»

• PhD visitors welcome at CSEC

  01/02/2011
  Two new visitors, currentlystudying for a PhD, are adding to the diversity of scholarship on the social study of environmental issues at CSEC. Both are interested in the approaches of Science and Tech ... Read more»

• Professor Brian Wynne awarded prestigious Bernal Prize

  31/08/2010
  Professor Brian Wynne Associate Director of Cesagen, Lancaster University awarded prestigious Bernal Prize. The prestigious J D Bernal Prize has been awarded to Brian Wynne, Professor of Science St ... Read more»

• Brian Wynne resigns from FSA group over GM

  02/06/2010
  Brian Wynne has resigned from the Steering Group of the Food Standards Agency's planned public dialogue process on the use of genetically modified crops and food. He had been vice-chair of the Steerin ... Read more»