Scholars, policy-makers, and outreach specialists in the nanotechnology community may be struggling with toxicological data and regulatory frameworks, but they seem to be able to agree on one thing: The public is unaware of the new technology and uninformed about the science behind it.
Ironically, this conclusion may not be supported by data. Our analyses of national survey data with identical wording over the last 5 years have found widening gaps in nanotech knowledge between the least educated and the most educated citizens. People who are already information rich are benefiting from traditional outreach efforts, such as museum exhibits or NOVA programming. Unfortunately, those who need outreach and education the most—those with little or no formal education—are being left behind.
The Future of Public Engagement
Fake Credentials in Nanomed Leader
This should come as no surprise. Data from NSF1 show that four in ten Americans with at least ...
