A forum at which a citizens' panel, selected from the general public, questions ‘experts' (or ‘witnesses') on a particular topic (usually science or technology related), assesses the responses, discusses the issues raised, and reports its conclusions in a report and to the media. The citizens' panel is the main actor throughout: it decides the key aspects of the debate, including the choice of questions and selection of the witnesses, and formulates its own conclusions. (From the UK Centre for Economic and Environmental Development).

a dialogue between citizens and experts on selected issues about technology politics

a form of public participation, pioneered in Denmark, which aims to influence the policy making process by opening up a dialogue between the public, experts and politicians