FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sept. 20, 2009

Media contact:

Anna Davison, CNS-UCSB

adavison@cns.ucsb.edu

+1-805-893-5929

Public attitudes to new technology: lessons for regulators

Nanotechnology is viewed favorably, but that could change; Possible risks should be acknowledged

(Santa Barbara, California)  New technologies may change our lives for the better, but sometimes they have risks. Communicating those benefits and risks to the public, and developing regulations to deal with them, can be difficult—particularly if there’s already public opposition to the technology.

A new study that provides an overview of research on public perceptions of nanotechnology—technology on a very, very small scale—challenges some current ideas of how people view the risks and benefits of new technology. The work has implications for how policymakers talk about and regulate new technologies.

Public views on nanotechnology, which could revolutionize medicine, electronics and energy technology, but has possible health and environmental risks, are overwhelmingly favorable, the study found. However many people hadn’t heard of nanotechnology, and nearly half those surveyed in 23 countries refused to offer any opinion. It’s reassuring that those people haven’t made hasty judgments, the authors say, but that means there could be big swings in public opinion on nanotechnology depending on how it is introduced and regulated, as well as the quality of information made available.

For, instance, “If you only talk about benefits it doesn’t mean the public will buy the product and everyone lives happily ever after. We know that is not a good scenario,” says Barbara Herr Harthorn, Director and Principal Investigator of the Center for Nanotechnology in Society at the University of California, Santa Barbara (CNS-UCSB), which is funded by the National Science Foundation.

Harthorn is one of the authors of a study—“Anticipating the perceived risk of nanotechnologies”—published online Sept. 20 in the journal Nature Nanotechnology. It is based on compiled data from 22 studies conducted in North America, Europe and Japan over the last decade. Previous studies have found that new and unknown technologies such as biotechnology tend to be regarded as risky, but that’s not the case for nanotechnology, according to this research. People who thought nanotechnology had more benefits than risks outnumbered those who perceived greater risks by 3 to 1 in this study. The 44 percent of people who didn’t have an opinion either way surprised the researchers.

“You don’t normally get that reluctance,” says Terre Satterfield of the University of British Columbia in Canada, lead author of the study and a collaborator with CNS-UCSB.

It’s important to study how people perceive risk, and not just expert assessments of actual risk, Herr Harthorn says, because it’s “a much better way to understand how people are going to behave and respond.”

“It’s not true that if a technology has benefits it will automatically get accepted by the public,” adds Milind Kandlikar of the University of British Columbia. He is also a collaborator with CNS-UCSB and a co-author of the study, along with Joseph Conti, a former graduate fellow with CNS-UCSB, and Christian Beaudrie of the University of British Columbia.

Public perceptions of risk depend on various demographic and cultural factors; for example, wealthy, well-educated white men tend to think of new technologies as less risky. Public opinion also is easily swayed by catastrophic events like the Chernobyl accident, which galvanized opposition to nuclear power, and by news like reports of deaths from Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or “Mad Cow” disease) in Great Britain, or from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or swine flu (the H1N1 virus).

“It’s much easier to destroy trust than gain it,” Satterfield says, so after an event like a nuclear meltdown or oil spill, leaders need to “take responsibility for any consequences quickly and clearly.”

Because nanotechnology hasn’t made big news, and because its actual risks are still largely unknown, it offers researchers a chance to study how people judge new technology before controversy arises and as information becomes available from sources such as the UC Center for the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology, a co-sponsor of this study. “The future is yet to be written,” Satterfield says. “Both knowledge and judgments could go either way.”

NOTE TO MEDIA:

Barbara Herr Harthorn can be reached at:

harthorn@cns.ucsb.edu

+1-805-893-3350

Terre Satterfield can be reached at:

satterfd@interchange.ubc.ca

Milind Kandlikar can be reached at:

mkandlikar@ires.ubc.ca

+1-604-822-5918

Journal reference:

“Anticipating the perceived risk of nanotechnologies” (subscription required)

Published online Sept. 20, 2009 in Nature Nanotechnology

About nanotechnology:

Nanotechnology is the production and manipulation of materials on a minute scale (DNA is two nanometers across; a strand of human hair is 100,000 nanometers wide). Nanotechnology has a wealth of potential uses in medicine, energy, electronics and environmental applications.

About the Center for Nanotechnology in Society (CNS-UCSB)

The Center for Nanotechnology in Society at the University of California, Santa Barbara is a national research and education center that focuses on the societal impacts of nanotechnology. It helps policymakers, researchers, and the public understand the opportunities and risks associated with nanotechnology.

Research at the center includes work on:

·      Public perception of the risks associated with nanotechnology

·      Nanotechnology in the global economy

·      Nanotechnology research and development in China

·      The historical context of nanotechnology

The Center for Nanotechnology in Society was founded in 2006 and is funded by the National Science Foundation.

For more information, visit http://www.cns.ucsb.edu

CNS-UCSB will have a substantial presence at the first meeting of the Society for the Study of Nanoscience and Emerging Technologies (S.NET). The conference, which is being held in Seattle this week, will explore economic, societal, and philosophical aspects of nanotechnology.

The S.NET conference is being held in conjunction with a NanoEthics Symposium hosted by the University of Washington. The joint meeting features invited speakers from around the world – including CNS-UCSB Principal Investigator and Director Barbara Herr Harthorn – and dozens of research presentations, including those by CNS-UCSB Co-Principal Investigator Richard Appelbaum, Education Director Julie Dillemuth, and Postdoctoral Scholars Mikael Johansson, Yasuyuki Motoyama, and Jennifer Rogers.

S.NET was formed to promote open intellectual exchange toward the advancement of knowledge and understanding of nanotechnologies in society.

The meeting runs from September 8-11; for more information, visit the conference website .

Intern Andrea Tran (right) talks about her research poster with Education Director Julie Dillemuth

Four undergraduate students recruited as summer interns at the Center for Nanotechnology in Society at UCSB (CNS-UCSB) are now completing their first foray into the world of academic research.

During their 8-week paid internships, the students – Sean Bronston-Wilson, Javier Martinez, Ryan Shapiro and Andrea Tran – carried out research on the societal implications of nanotechnology and then gave presentations and prepared research posters on their findings. They were mentored by Graduate Fellows from CNS-UCSB, who used their expertise to guide the interns in their work, and offered support and encouragement.

The internship project focused on carbon nanotubes: minute graphite cylinders that are exceptionally strong, yet light and flexible, and can conduct electricity and heat. They’re already on the market as components of some bicycle frames, hockey sticks and other sports equipment, and in some flat-screen televisions and high-resolution microscopes. They have a myriad other potential uses in composite materials, electronics, sensors, and medical applications.

Interns (from left) Ryan Shapiro, Sean Bronston-Wilson, Javier Martinez and Andrea Tran present the results of their research

The interns worked on a value chain analysis of carbon nanotubes – a study that examines all aspects of a product’s lifecycle, including research and development, manufacturing, marketing, distribution, and disposal or recycling.

The CNS-UCSB summer intern program, which recruits from UCSB and local community colleges, is led by Dr. Julie Dillemuth, Education Director for the center. “It gives undergraduates a chance to do graduate-level work,” she said, “and to get a sense of what life in grad school and at a research center is like.”

Two of the interns – Bronston-Wilson, a Communication major at Santa Barbara City College who will attend UCSB in the fall, and Shapiro, a Geology major at Santa Barbara City College – are part of the INSET (Internships in Nanosystems, Science, Engineering and Technology) program at the California NanoSystems Institute at UCSB. INSET is funded by the National Science Foundation as part of its Research Experiences for Undergraduates program.

Intern Javier Martinez talks about his work at CNS-UCSB

The other interns attend UCSB: Martinez is a Spanish major and Tran is a History and Global Studies double major.

They all worked closely with CNS-UCSB Graduate Fellows chosen as mentors. Bronston-Wilson was mentored by Kasim Alimahomed, of CNS' Interdisciplinary Research Group 2 (Innovation); Martinez was mentored by Indy Hurt of Interdisciplinary Research Group 3 (Risk Perception and Media); Shapiro was mentored by Meredith Conroy of Interdisciplinary Research Group 3 (Risk Perception and Media); and Tran was mentored by Rachel Parker and Claron Ridge of Interdisciplinary Research Group 4 (Globalization of Nanotechnology).

Each intern tackled a different part of the value chain analysis for carbon nanotubes: Bronston-Wilson examined intellectual property related to carbon nanotubes; Martinez looked at the potential regulations on carbon nanotubes in health applications; Shapiro studied media coverage of nanotechnology; and Tran investigated how carbon nanotubes are being commercialized in the United States, and in China, another country pushing nanotechnology development.

The questions the interns investigated in their research “have real-world significance and extend across disciplinary boundaries,” Dillemuth said.

Intern Ryan Shapiro (left) and graduate fellow Kasim Alimahomed, one of the mentors for the internship program

Tran described her internship at CNS-UCSB as “a challenging, but rewarding opportunity,” and “an amazing experience. I learned so much about the researching process,” she said, “and all of the mentors and principal investigators were so helpful.”

Bronston-Wilson said that “as an undergraduate, being able to participate in scientific research was a great opportunity for me.”

For more information on the summer undergraduate internship program at CNS-UCSB, contact Education Director Julie Dillemuth.

Intern Sean Bronston-Wilson discusses his research poster with graduate fellow Indy Hurt, one of the mentors for the internship program

The first meeting of the Society for the Study of Nanoscience and Emerging Technologies, S.NET, will take place in Seattle, September 8-11, 2009.

The conference will run in conjunction with a NanoEthics Symposium hosted by the University of Washington's Center for Workforce Development. The joint meeting includes 13 invited speakers and more than 80 submitted papers exploring economic, societal, and philosophical aspects of nanotechnology. This event is being jointly hosted by the University of South Carolina and the University of Washington.

To register for the conference and to learn more about the speakers and their presentations, visit the S.NET website.

Nanotechnology has great potential for helping solve some of the world's most critical problems, such as environmental degradation, energy challenges, shortages of clean water and food, and pandemic diseases. Increased international collaboration on technological innovation will both help to advance our understanding in these areas, and lessen inequality between the global North and South.

Emerging Technologies/Emerging Economies (Nano Equity 2009), an international conference to be held in Washington, D.C., November 4-6, 2009, is a joint effort between CNS and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (which will host the conference). It will convene leaders from NGOs, government, the private sector, science and technology, and academia, to discuss new pathways for technology-based solutions to problems in four inter-related areas: energy/environment, water, food security, and health. Participants will come from the United States, Europe, and Japan; three of the largest emerging economies (China, India, and Brazil); and other developing countries.

For more information, visit the Nano Equity 2009 website.

Center for Nanotechnology in Society
UC Santa Barbara
www.cns.ucsb.edu

“NanoDays” returns to Santa Barbara this weekend

Learn about nanotechnology at a fun, free event for children and adults

What:                         NanoDays, a fun, all-ages opportunity to learn about nanotechnology and its implications for society

When:                        Saturday, April 4, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Where:                      Farmers Market, Santa Barbara and Cota streets, Santa Barbara

Learn more about nanotechnology and its implications at a free all-ages NanoDays event this Saturday, April 4, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Farmers Market, Santa Barbara and Cota streets in Santa Barbara. Activities include:

• Cool science demonstrations
• Displays of products incorporating nanotechnology
• A chance to fold, and take home, your own buckyball
• Free temporary tattoos and stickers
• Opportunities to talk to experts about nanotechnology and its implications for society

The second annual NanoDays event in Santa Barbara is sponsored by the Center for Nanotechnology in Society and the California NanoSystems Institute at UC Santa Barbara. It’s part of a national week of education on nanoscale science and engineering (http://www.nisenet.org/nanodays).

Click here for the full press release. 

Summer 2009 Program Information

June 22 - August 14 

The NSF Center for Nanotechnology in Society (CNS) at the University of California Santa Barbara is seeking undergraduate social science, humanities, science or engineering majors who are interested in gaining social science research experience.   

This internship program is for current UCSB undergraduate students, and is an 8-week summer research experience on the UCSB campus.   

Interns will gain first-hand experience in the investigation of the societal issues relating to nanotechnology in a dynamic, collaborative research environment.   They will work with faculty and graduate student mentors in social science, humanities or science and engineering, who will provide training and support.   

Application deadline: April 15, 2009

http://www.cns.ucsb.edu/education-public-engagement-5/

In order for the potential health risks associated with nanotechnology to be properly assessed, the current regulatory system in the US must be changed. That’s the conclusion of a new paper, published in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Science and Technology, by researchers from the University of British Columbia and the University of Minnesota.

Nanomaterials are designed at the molecular level to have special properties, such as enhanced heat conductivity or strength, that are very different from the bulk forms of the same material. Thus, they have many promising applications, from handheld electronic devices to drug delivery techniques. However, because of the tiny size and distinctive qualities of nanomaterials, concern exists about their potential to damage the environment and the human body.

“Nanomaterials are unregulated in the United States, even though they are being manufactured and used in literally hundreds of products,” says Prof. Milind Kandlikar, of UBC’s Liu Institute for Global Issues and co-author of the new study. “What’s more, the current regulatory system for chemicals is broken. Most chemicals present in workplace and community environments have not been subjected to health and safety risk assessments. We run the risk of repeating this situation for nanomaterials if the same processes are used.”

The current regulatory system in the US places the burden for conducting risk assessments on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for occupational risks, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for non-occupational risks. However, these agencies do not have the budgetary means to adequately test nanomaterials. Nor do they have sufficient toxicity or exposure information from nanotechnology firms, since industry is not required to divulge this information.

http://nanotechwire.com/news.asp?nid=7508

Graduate fellows are integrated into Center activities that include faculty, researchers, and other students from social science, humanities, and science and engineering disciplines. CNS-UCSB faculty researchers work in the departments of Anthropology, Communication, English, Global and International Studies, History, Political Science, Sociology, and Feminist Studies.

 Click here for the application. 

Professor Dan Kahan
Cultural Cognition of Nanotechnology (and a Variety of Other) Risks 
Monday, February 23, 2009
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
1605 Elings Hall (CNSI)
 
Abstract:  The cultural cognition of risk refers to the tendency of individuals to conform their perceptions of the risks of putatively dangerous activities to their cultural evaluations of those activities. Professor Kahan will describe the theory behind cultural cognition and the methods researchers affiliated with the Cultural Cognition Project have used to test it. Findings relating to perceptions of nanotechnology risks will be prominently featured. 

For the full announcement, click here.

December 9, 2008

(Santa Barbara, Calif.) –– The results of a new U.S.–U.K. study published in this week's issue of the journal Nature Nanotechnology show that ordinary people in both countries hold very positive views of nanotechnologies and what the future of these technologies might bring. Participants in both countries indicated a significantly higher comfort level with energy applications of nanotechnologies than with applications used in health treatments.

CNS-UCSB Director Barbara Herr Harthorn led the research team.

Click here for the press release.

Click here for the full study in Nature Nanotechnology.