What drives public adoption of new technology?
- Date
- 27th March 2026 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
- Venue
- Online
- Book now
In the next ‘Science and Society’ webinar, Dr Helen Pallett, Associate Professor of Human Geography at the University of East Anglia, will be speaking to Dr. Izzy Webb, Deputy Director for Technology Strategy and Security (DSIT) about how members of the public relate to novel technologies and what this means for innovation policy.
Helen will present insights from a new briefing paper on ‘What drives public adoption of new technology?’ which sets out social science research on ‘what works’ to ensure that new technologies respond to genuine societal need and how government can rethink the role of the public for technology policy. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions.
Key questions discussed in the webinar will include:
- Why do new technologies get adopted by members of the public, while others aren’t?
- How useful is it for government to focus on public acceptance as an indicator for tech adoption?
- How can government shape innovation to meet societal needs, not just drive uptake?
Please ensure to use a gov.uk email address when registering for this event.