Public Participation in Science, Technology and Innovation: critical contributions to the contexts of Traditional Territories in Brazil

Abstract

The democratization of public participation in science, technology, and innovation (ST&I) has gained prominence in contemporary debates, especially in light of emerging scientific paradigms and the growing recognition of local and traditional knowledge systems. This article aims to identify theoretical contributions regarding collective actors' public participation and explore analytical approaches to this participation in the context of Traditional Territories in Brazil. The study is based on a conceptual review inspired by Scoping Review principles and draws from the literature in Science and Technology Studies (STS), the Social Sciences, and Public Administration. The analysis mobilizes concepts such as citizen science, collaborative governance, knowledge co-production, and political categories such as social movements, territory, and cognitive justice. The results identify two predominant forms of public participation in ST&I: (1) participation in explicit ST&I policy, institutionalized through consultative and regulatory mechanisms, and (2) participation in scientific research, notably through citizen science initiatives. Both forms reveal significant limitations in including historically marginalized collective actors. Grounded in the experiences of Traditional Territories and the knowledge production of social movements, the article proposes an analytical and political shift in the debate on public participation. It argues that situated and insurgent science practices in these contexts offer critical insights for rethinking the notion of scientific democracy, thus expanding the analytical frameworks and policy approaches to ST&I in Brazil.