MEDIA REPRESENTATIONS OF MEDIA REPRESENTATIONS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY – DIGITAL MEDIANANOTECHNOLOGY – DIGITAL MEDIA

Societal Dimensions of Societal Dimensions of NanotechnologyNanotechnology

PI MeetingPI MeetingJuly 28-29,2008July 28-29,2008

David M. BerubeDavid M. BerubeCo-ord, PCOST – Co-ord, PCOST –

Public Communication of Science Public Communication of Science and Technologyand Technology

North Carolina State UniversityNorth Carolina State UniversityUSAUSA

HISTORYHISTORY

August 2001- first meeting with August 2001- first meeting with program officers on defining field; program officers on defining field;

December 15, 2001 – first December 15, 2001 – first exploratory grant on societal issue;exploratory grant on societal issue;

NIRT 2002 – first NIRT on societal NIRT 2002 – first NIRT on societal issues.issues.

DIGITAL MEDIADIGITAL MEDIA

CRDM – 27 doctoral students.CRDM – 27 doctoral students. Digital media - Digital media -

• computer-mediated communication; computer-mediated communication; • visual rhetoric; visual rhetoric; • digital culture; digital culture; • electronic communication across the electronic communication across the

curriculum; curriculum; • media and technology policy; media and technology policy; • textual mediation; textual mediation; • digital literacy; and digital literacy; and • online information design online information design

http://www.chass.ncsu.edu/crdm/

http://communication.chass.ncsu.edu/pcost/index.html

PCOSTPCOST

The PCOST Center's mission is to provide The PCOST Center's mission is to provide opportunities for scholars opportunities for scholars to understand and to understand and improve the public communication of improve the public communication of emerging science and technologyemerging science and technology. PCOST will . PCOST will work with and support faculty and students work with and support faculty and students working in wide arena of scholarship including working in wide arena of scholarship including communication, media studies, human communication, media studies, human sciences, and associated subject fieldssciences, and associated subject fields. . Audiences for our work include stakeholders in Audiences for our work include stakeholders in science and technology such as policy makers, science and technology such as policy makers, scientists, business leaders, and non-scientists, business leaders, and non-governmental organizations involved in debates governmental organizations involved in debates about science and technology.about science and technology.

PLANS - $$$PLANS - $$$

1.1. * PCOST is not waiting for * PCOST is not waiting for government funding, we are government funding, we are establishing a sponsorship system.establishing a sponsorship system.

2.2. * PCOST anticipates an annual web * PCOST anticipates an annual web conference summit to discuss state conference summit to discuss state of public communication of science.of public communication of science.

3.3. * PCOST has begun efforts to * PCOST has begun efforts to coordinate our work with Duke coordinate our work with Duke team (CEIN) w/o funding.team (CEIN) w/o funding.

RESOURCESRESOURCES 14 FACULTY from 5 universities including UNC, 14 FACULTY from 5 universities including UNC,

UNC-G, and Duke and over a dozen UNC-G, and Duke and over a dozen concentrations.concentrations.

RTP presence.RTP presence.• Environmental Sciences (8 companies/1,430 Environmental Sciences (8 companies/1,430

employees);employees);• Information Technology (35 companies/20,849 Information Technology (35 companies/20,849

employees);employees);• Life Sciences (48 companies/9,715 employees);Life Sciences (48 companies/9,715 employees);• Materials Sciences and Engineering (21 Materials Sciences and Engineering (21

companies/1,187 employees); andcompanies/1,187 employees); and• Scientific Associations, Foundations, and Scientific Associations, Foundations, and

Institutes (18 companies/4,030 employees).Institutes (18 companies/4,030 employees).

DM: CHALLENGESDM: CHALLENGES

How does Digital Media give demographics, that How does Digital Media give demographics, that are usually silent within traditional media, a are usually silent within traditional media, a voice? Does this present the possibility for a new voice? Does this present the possibility for a new group/type of amplifiers and attenuators? group/type of amplifiers and attenuators?

Since people trust blogs more than traditional Since people trust blogs more than traditional media, how should scientists use this to their media, how should scientists use this to their advantage? advantage?

How has digital media strengthened the voice of How has digital media strengthened the voice of grass roots activism/NGOs? grass roots activism/NGOs?

How can government communication/websites How can government communication/websites allow the public to become more active by also allow the public to become more active by also producing and sharing information? producing and sharing information?

How does digital literacy and the digital divide How does digital literacy and the digital divide contribute to Intergenerational Conflict (IGC)? contribute to Intergenerational Conflict (IGC)?

Can Massive Multiplayer Online Gaming (MMOG) be used to Can Massive Multiplayer Online Gaming (MMOG) be used to simulate crisis situations for emergency professionals? How simulate crisis situations for emergency professionals? How could MMOGs be used to help communicate scientific risk could MMOGs be used to help communicate scientific risk information to the public? Is it possible for the public to information to the public? Is it possible for the public to view traditionally fictive formats (i.e. MMOGs) as purveyors view traditionally fictive formats (i.e. MMOGs) as purveyors of non-fictive information that should be respected/taken of non-fictive information that should be respected/taken seriously? seriously?

How are user/contributor-managed sites like Wikipedia How are user/contributor-managed sites like Wikipedia raising the bar for production efficiency by throwing raising the bar for production efficiency by throwing traditional corporate hierarchy out the window? How can traditional corporate hierarchy out the window? How can science develop similar sites with the same production science develop similar sites with the same production efficiency? (NCouncil of Science and Environment – efficiency? (NCouncil of Science and Environment – standards report, issues landscape; Societal Dimensions PI].standards report, issues landscape; Societal Dimensions PI].

DM: CHALLENGES (2)DM: CHALLENGES (2)

White Paper on Risk Communication 07/31/08White Paper on Risk Communication 07/31/08 Workshop – 08/28-29/08.Workshop – 08/28-29/08. Citizen’s Guides to Nanotechnology.Citizen’s Guides to Nanotechnology. Delphi Rounds on expert/inexpert risk Delphi Rounds on expert/inexpert risk

rankings lead to Engagement activities and rankings lead to Engagement activities and focus groups AND a closing focus groups AND a closing program/workshop.program/workshop.

http://communication.chass.ncsu.edu/nirt/Home.html

Citizen’s GuidesCitizen’s Guidestoto

Nanotechnology *Nanotechnology *

4 pp. PDF files downloadable on applied nanoscience written for inexpert audiences.

Introduction to Introduction to Nanotechnology.Nanotechnology.

Agri-, silva- & aqua-Agri-, silva- & aqua-culture. culture.

Cancer Diagnosis Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment.and Treatment.

Cosmetics.Cosmetics. Computers. Computers. Consumer products.Consumer products. Energy. Energy. Food products.Food products. Risks.Risks. Tissue Engineering Tissue Engineering

& Transplants.& Transplants. Toxicology.Toxicology. Water…..Water…..

http://communication.chass.ncsu.edu/citizenguidetonano/index.html

CURRENTCURRENT D. Berube, PI: “NIRT: Intuitive D. Berube, PI: “NIRT: Intuitive

Nanotoxicology and Public Engagement,” Nanotoxicology and Public Engagement,” NSF-NIRT (Nanotechnology Interdisciplinary NSF-NIRT (Nanotechnology Interdisciplinary Research Team) 09/01/07 – 08/30/12Research Team) 09/01/07 – 08/30/12

D. Berube, PI: “DRU: Risky Business: Risky D. Berube, PI: “DRU: Risky Business: Risky decisions under uncertain conditions,” NSF-decisions under uncertain conditions,” NSF-DRU (Decision-Making, Risk and Uncertainty) DRU (Decision-Making, Risk and Uncertainty) 09/01/08-08/31/11. 09/01/08-08/31/11.

D. Berube, I: “IGERT: Genetic Engineering and D. Berube, I: “IGERT: Genetic Engineering and Society: The Case of Transgenic Pests,” NSF-Society: The Case of Transgenic Pests,” NSF-IGERT, 09/01/09-08/31/11.IGERT, 09/01/09-08/31/11.

PENDINGPENDING

NEW RESEARCHNEW RESEARCH

Fear appeals and their effect on Fear appeals and their effect on public perceptions.public perceptions.

Belief based arguments and Belief based arguments and nanobiotechnology.nanobiotechnology.

Fuzzy systems as an alternative to Fuzzy systems as an alternative to traditional probability in risk analysis traditional probability in risk analysis under conditions of high uncertainty.under conditions of high uncertainty.

““Especially tasty fruit” as an Especially tasty fruit” as an anchoring principle. anchoring principle.

http://nanohype.blogspot.com/

THANKSTHANKSdmberube@ncsu.edudmberube@ncsu.edu

This work was This work was supported in part by supported in part by grants from the grants from the National Science National Science Foundation,Foundation,

NSF 06-595, NSF 06-595, Nanotechnology Nanotechnology Interdisciplinary Interdisciplinary Research Team (NIRT): Research Team (NIRT): Intuitive Toxicology Intuitive Toxicology and Public and Public Engagement.Engagement.