1. Participation of Society in Science Community Associations:
The Woburn, MA case
By Sheyla Carew
March 10, 2010

2. The Woburn Case
Woburn families one of the first groups of toxic waste plaintiffs to gather such evidence (physical and emotional)
Example of popular participation in health controversies working with scientific experts and government officials.
“Popular epidemiology”
FACE (1980)

3. What is the Role of a Community Organization?
Primary source of information for people living in a contaminated area.
Three essential needs: Social support, information and power.
Helps to reverse the psychological damage.
Creation of public awareness

4. Technological Politics & Democracy
Awareness & Mobilization
Mapping Needs & resources
Organize Community projects
Asses social consequences
Directed to city / town
Education Research & Publicity
Political Movements
Organizations
Democratic Design Process
FACE
-Harvard SPH
- Media

5. Public Paradigm No Yes Prediscovery Public Understanding
Scientific Knowledge
Policy
Government Science Public Life
- Agencies Proffesional organizations Organizations
-Polititians Proffesional leaders Media
Discovery
Treatment
DEP is challenged by appealing to government, science business
DEP is accepted and prevention, treatment, and research follows
Disease sufferers satisfied? No
Yes

6. Woburn aftermath Reestablishment of state cancer registry
Increased research in Woburn itself
Discovery of TCE syndrome
Model for other toxic waste cases

7. “Citizens involvement is not only good politics, but also good science”
Phil Brown, Toxic Exposures, 2007.