TY - JOUR

T1 - Public reactions to the promotion of nanotechnologies in society

AU - Könninger, Sabine

AU - Ott, Ingrid

AU - Zülsdorf, Torben

AU - Papilloud, Christian

PY - 2010/1

Y1 - 2010/1

N2 - What would be the reactions of the public if nanotechnologies do not contribute to the economic growth and societal well-being? Similar questions have led philosophers, cultural and social scientists to explore the ethical and societal implications of nanotechnologies. They often call for more realistic expectations with regard to the promotion of nanotechnologies in society. If governments, firms and scientists have taken this argument into account, they still emphasise that nothing should hinder the nanotechnological innovation process. How would citizens react to such a promotional strategy of governments, firms, scientists? To address this question, we have conducted a comparative survey in March and December 2008 among people living in the cities of Grenoble (France), and Hamburg (Germany). Our results show that French and German interviewees react with scepticism towards the promotion of nanotechnologies in society. Significantly different motivations legitimise their scepticism, as well as their different image of nanotechnologies.

AB - What would be the reactions of the public if nanotechnologies do not contribute to the economic growth and societal well-being? Similar questions have led philosophers, cultural and social scientists to explore the ethical and societal implications of nanotechnologies. They often call for more realistic expectations with regard to the promotion of nanotechnologies in society. If governments, firms and scientists have taken this argument into account, they still emphasise that nothing should hinder the nanotechnological innovation process. How would citizens react to such a promotional strategy of governments, firms, scientists? To address this question, we have conducted a comparative survey in March and December 2008 among people living in the cities of Grenoble (France), and Hamburg (Germany). Our results show that French and German interviewees react with scepticism towards the promotion of nanotechnologies in society. Significantly different motivations legitimise their scepticism, as well as their different image of nanotechnologies.

KW - Cultural differences

KW - Economics

KW - Economy

KW - Europe

KW - Nanotechnology

KW - Perception

KW - Promotion

KW - Promotional strategies

KW - Public reactions

KW - Society

KW - Sociology

KW - Economics

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=76249087894&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1504/IJNT.2010.031314

DO - 10.1504/IJNT.2010.031314

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:76249087894

VL - 7

SP - 265

EP - 279

JO - International Journal of Nanotechnology

JF - International Journal of Nanotechnology

SN - 1475-7435

IS - 2-3

ER -