This project examines why people trust science and scientists and what influences their attitudes toward scientific research in new and emerging areas of technology, such as nanoscale science and engineering (NSE). As communication researchers, our particular interests include looking at how people evaluate the communication they receive about science, either in person or through the mass media, and how this information relates to their attitudes toward science and scientists.

NSE offers substantial promise for the enhancement of food and agricultural systems. By working at the molecular level to build machines, structures, and materials, NSE can revolutionize diagnostics, drug delivery, pollution control, pathogen detection, and food safety capabilities.
Yet technology without consideration of public input runs a risk of triggering backlash or opposition, and there is already growing concern in the United States and Europe about risks related to NSE. While popular media accounts and bestselling novels may be fueling risk perceptions, as with any emerging technology, there is also a lack of public knowledge and understanding. It is quite likely, however, that scientists lack as much understanding about how individuals, groups, and communities may respond to NSE as the public lacks about the technology.
Nanoscale science and engineering offers substantial promise for the enhancement of food and agricultural systems. By working at the molecular level to build machines, structures, and materials, NSE can revolutionize diagnostic, drug delivery, pollution control, pathogen detection, and food safety capabilities. Potential applications to food and agricultural systems include “smart” drug delivery systems, which can deliver nanoscale sealed packages of a drug that would not open until it had reached a specific location in the animal. In addition, food packaging that uses “self-healing” containers could dramatically reduce food spoilage and microbial contamination. Yet technology without consideration of public input runs a risk of triggering backlash or opposition, and there is already growing concern in the United States and Europe about risks related to NSE. While popular media accounts and bestselling novels may be fueling risk perceptions, as with any emerging technology, there is also a lack of public knowledge and understanding. It is quite likely, however, that scientists lack as much understanding about how individuals, groups, and communities (a.k.a., the public) may respond to NSE as the public lacks about the technology.

In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 Cornell NSE researchers to establish the varying understandings and applications of NSE, how scientists define risk in NSE, and what they think the public should know about NSE. The interview results were used to generate a brochure on NSE and how it might relate to agriculture. To incorporate knowledge translation philosophy into the research, 17 agricultural stakeholders were next interviewed to discern their knowledge of and interest in NSE, to identify their agricultural problems, and to understand their view of emerging technologies. Their input on the brochure content, layout and design was used to contextualize the brochure so it would be appropriate and useful to the stakeholder audience. Finally, a combination of the interviews with the scientists and the stakeholders was used to understand the various perspectives on and perceptions of NSE and gain insight on how to communicate about an emerging technology. These results identified challenges for future knowledge translation work as well as suggestions for how scientists and stakeholders can more effectively communicate about new and emerging technologies.
In the summer of 2006, we conducted a mail survey exploring how individual views about local scientists and scientific research may affect support for several areas of emerging science, including agricultural biotechnology, agricultural nanotechnology, and gene therapy. Using a listed-adults sample purchased from a professional sampling firm, Cornell’s Survey Research Institute sent 2,500 introductory letters and eight-page questionnaires to randomly selected individuals in Tompkins and Ontario counties in Upstate New York (5,000 total). Those who did not respond to the first wave received a reminder postcard; those not responding in three weeks were sent a second letter with another copy of the questionnaire. The first round of questionnaires was mailed on May 18, 2006. Reminder postcards were sent on June 2, 2006. A third round of questionnaires was mailed to all non-respondents on June 15, 2006. Data collection ended August 1, 2006. Approximately 10% (n=496) of the mailings were returned as undeliverable, leaving a usable sample of 4,505. Of these, 29% (n=1,305) completed their questionnaire. We produced a final summary report, which we sent to respondents who requested a copy, and we are currently in the process of writing up articles for scientific publication. In addition, this data will serve as a baseline from which to compare attitudes of individuals who participate in the deliberative meetings, anticipated to be held in spring 2007.

At present, we are unable to assess the impact.

nanotechnology for food and agricultural systems

Hatch