From a background in social psychology, Phil's research focuses on the cultural dimensions of environmental and innovation policy and their intersection with everyday practice. He has published widely on the social science of technology and the environment and is author, with John Urry, of Contested Natures (London; Sage, 1998) and Bodies of Nature (guest editor of special issue of Body and Society). He advises the UK Economic and Social Research Board on Nanotechnology and Society matters, is a founding member of the International Nanotechnology and Society Network, a member of the UK Nanotechnologies Standardization Committee NTI/1, and a research partner on the Demos Sciencewise project ‘The Nanodialogues: Four experiments in upstream engagement’. He works closely with Demos on research on the governance of emerging technologies.