Industrial constructions of publics and public knowledge: a qualitative investigation of practice in the UK chemicals industry

While the rhetoric of public engagement is increasingly commonplace within industry,there has been little research that examines how lay knowledge is conceptualized andwhether it is really used within companies. Using the chemicals sector as anexample, this paper explores how companies conceive of publics and “publicknowledge,” and how this relates to modes of engagement/communication withthem. Drawing on qualitative empirical research in four companies, we demonstratethat the public for industry are primarily conceived as“consumers” and “neighbours,” havingconcerns that should be allayed rather than as groups with knowledge meritingengagement. We conclude by highlighting the dissonance between current advocacy ofengagement and the discourses and practices prevalent within industry, and highlightthe need for more realistic strategies for industry/public engagement