Introduction to special issue on science, policy and social ineqity

Science and technology have been heralded as important strategies for addressing the inequities that exist in modern societies. A number of studies, however, have demonstrated that they do not always achieve this goal and in some cases they exacerbate existing, or create new, inequities. A handful of scholars have argued that the problem is not simply a result of poor attempts at implementation, but may have roots in science and technology policy. This special issue explores the opportunities for, and difficulties with, addressing inequities through science policy.