For much of this class (and externally) science and politics have been presented as a dyadic relationship. Science and technology, both commercial and academic, make up one half while the state (government, politicians, and policy) occupy the other. Where does this leave citizens? Are they merely passive recipients of the advancements brokered between scientists and the state? How can citizens, residing in democracies, rejoin this relationship? Can citizens drive scientific issue selection and subsequent policy or must it come from the top-down system (status quo)?