Public perceptions about nanotechnology: Risks, benefits and trust

Development of an Interactive Immersion Environment for Engendering Understanding about Nanotechnology

“…Consequently, a research mission unfolds that seeks ways to provide citizens and learners with tools for developing knowledge to make scientific judgments about the potential benefits and risks of nano (e.g. Cobb & Macoubrie, 2004;Gilbert & Lin, 2013).…”

“…The student data consisted of a written pre-and posttest (e.g. Gardner, Jones, Taylor, Forrester, & Robertson, 2010;Jones, Andre, Superfine, & Taylor, 2003) Bainbridge, 2002;Cobb & Macoubrie, 2004;Lin et al, 2013;Siegrist, Keller, Kastenholz, Frey, & Weick, 2007). The closed items were statements that students responded to using a visual analogue scale (VAS) (Funke & Reips, 2012;Mytton & Rumbold, 2011) by marking an "X" on a 10-centimeter line ranging from 0 ("Disagree" or "Beneficial") to 10 ("Agree" or "Risky").…”

The larger world of nano

“…8 His finding is consistent with several previous surveys showing that while large majorities in North America and Europe have heard little about nanotechnology, those same majorities have positive or neutral evaluations of nanotech's potential. 9 Doubleday also finds, though, that once participants in public engagement projects "learned more about specific nanotechnology products and how they work, participants become concerned about [the] possibility of negative unintended consequences." Surveys conducted last year show that giving respondents more information about nanotechnology simply exacerbates preexisting inclinations: Those who are mildly optimistic to start with become more so, while those who start out cautious become even more wary.…”

Environmentally Responsible Development of Nanotechnology

“…NNI organized consultative boards with several industrial sectors to address EHS issues. Additional papers outlined public attitudes and documented unexpected consequences of nanotechnology (8)(9)(10) …”