Survey highlights support for nanotech in health fields but disapproval elsewher

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Survey highlights support for nanotech in health fields but

disapproval elsewhere

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-11/ncsu-shs111308.php

A landmark national survey on the use of nanotechnology for " human

enhancement " shows widespread public support for applications of the

new technology related to improving human health. However, the survey

also shows broad disapproval for nanotech human enhancement research

in areas without health benefits. A team of researchers at North

Carolina State University and Arizona State University (ASU)

conducted the study, which could influence the direction of future

nanotechnology research efforts.

The " Public Awareness of Nanotechnology Study " is the first

nationally representative survey to examine public opinion on the use

of nanotechnology for human enhancement. The survey found significant

support for enhancements that promise to improve human health. For

example, 88 percent of participants were in favor of research for a

video-to-brain link that would amount to artificial eyesight for the

blind. However, there was little support for non-health research

endeavors. For example, only 30 percent of participants approved of

research into implants that could improve performance of soldiers on

the battlefield.

Nanotechnology is generally defined as technology that uses

substances having a size of 100 nanometers or less (tens of thousands

of times smaller than the width of a human hair), and is expected to

have widespread uses in medicine, consumer products and industrial

processes. Human enhancement is a sweeping term that applies to the

use of such technologies to alter human capabilities.

NC State's Dr. Cobb, one of the leaders of the study, says

the survey's findings are important because " what the public wants

could drive the direction of future research. " Cobb, an associate

professor of political science, explains, " The public should have

input into where the government invests its research funding. " Dr.

, an associate professor of political science at ASU and

another leader of the survey, adds, " One of the most important

findings is the difference in support for different applications of

human enhancement. Research and public policies will need to reflect

this differentiated view, recognizing that there are some

applications the public supports and some that the public is quite

skeptical of. "

While the survey shows strong public support for research into

nanotechnology applications in the health field, those findings are

tempered by a similar concern from the public about the scope of that

research. The study found that 55 percent of participants felt that

researchers should " avoid playing God with new technologies. "

Similarly, the public expressed little confidence in the government

and mass media to inform people about potential risks from new

technologies. Rather, participants said they had the greatest

confidence in university scientists and environmental groups to

protect the public.

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Leaders of the study were NC State's Cobb, ASU's , Hays,

doctoral student in political science at ASU, and Dr. Guston,

professor of political science and director of the Center for

Nanotechnology in Society at Arizona State University (CNS). The

study was funded by CNS under a cooperative agreement from the

National Science Foundation to conduct research, training and

outreach on the societal aspects of nanotechnology. The study's

findings complement earlier findings of the CNS National Citizens'

Technology Forum, organized by Cobb and NC State researcher Dr.

Hamlett in April 2008.

The survey was conducted between July and October of 2008. The survey

included 556 participants, had a 28 percent response rate, and has a

margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percent.