Dan Lerner is a student of politics and economics at Edinburgh University and is interested in all fields of e-policy. In particular, he is interested in the interplay between technology and democracy - he is somewhat skeptical of claims that the internet will solve the political disengagement that saw turnout in the 2001 UK general election plummet to levels unheard of since the First World War.

He recently completed a study for the International Teledemocracy Centre on the way in which the internet could be used to improve the petitioning process in the European and German Parliaments.

He has had a range of other posts including reporting positions with the Financial Times, Independent, BBC, Telegraph and Scotsman. His interests include cheap wine, strong black coffee, and Scotch whisky.

To contact Dan Lerner email: d.lerner@usa.net.