Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Nanotechnology and society

New insights into public perceptions

Nature Nanotechnology volume 4, pages 79–80 (2009)Cite this article

Research into public perceptions of nanotechnology is becoming more rigorous as increasingly complex theoretical models are developed and tested by social scientists.

During recent years, a burgeoning community of social science researchers has developed an understanding of how the public perceives emerging technologies such as nanotechnology. This issue contains three papers by social scientists that describe the 'state of the art' in this field and provide fresh thinking on the factors that drive public perceptions of nanotechnology. Such research is important because, ultimately, perceptions will determine if nanotechnology is accepted or rejected by the public. These three papers are distinctive because they mark a substantial advance in the range of theoretical factors considered to affect the public's perceptions and attitudes towards nanotechnology.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Get just this article for as long as you need it

$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Kahan, D. M., Braman, D., Slovic, P., Gastil, J. & Cohen, G. Nature Nanotech. 4, 87–90 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Scheufele, D. A., Corley, E. A., Shih, T.-J., Dalrymple, K. E. & Ho, S. S. Nature Nanotech. 4, 91–94 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Bhide, A. The Venturesome Economy: How Innovation Sustains Prosperity in a More Connected World (Princeton Univ. Press, 2008).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  4. Pidgeon, N., Harthorn, B. H., Bryant, K. & Rogers-Hayden, T. Nature Nanotech. 4, 95–98 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Siegrist, M., Keller, C., Kastenholz, H., Frey, S. & Weik, A. Risk Anal. 27, 59–69 (2007).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Currall, S. C., King, E. B., Lane, N., Madera, J. & Turner, S. Nature Nanotech. 1, 153–155 (2006).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Friedman, S. M. & Egolf, B. P. Presented at the Society of Risk Analysis Annual Meeting, San Antonio, Texas, 9–12 December 2007; see <http://tinyurl.com/8rjkn7>.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Peter D. Hart Research Associates <http://www.nanotechproject.org/file_download/files/HartReport.pdf> (2006).

  9. Gaskell, G., Einsiedel, E., Hallman, W., Priest, S. H. & Olsthoorn, J. Science 310, 1908–1909 (2005).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Scheufele, D. A. & Lewenstein, B. V. J. Nanopart. Res. 7, 659–667 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Cobb, M. & Macoubrie, J. J. Nanopart. Res. 6, 395–404 (2004).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. The Royal Society & The Royal Academy of Engineering <http://www.nanotec.org.uk/finalReport.htm> (2004).

  13. Bainbridge, W. S. J. Nanopart. Res. 4, 561–570 (2002).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Steven C. Currall is in the Faculty of Engineering Sciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK and at the London Business School, London NW1 4SA, UK. scc@ucl.ac.uk,

    Steven C. Currall

Authors
  1. Steven C. Currall
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Currall, S. New insights into public perceptions. Nature Nanotech 4, 79–80 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2008.423

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2008.423

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Find nanotechnology articles, nanomaterial data and patents all in one place. Visit Nano by Nature Research