Public reactions to the promotion of nanotechnologies in society
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In: International Journal of Nanotechnology, Vol. 7, No. 2-3, 01.2010, p. 265-279.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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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 -