Hiding risks can hurt public support for nanotechnology, survey finds

May 4, 2010

By hammersmith

[Source: ScienceDaily] – A new national survey on public attitudes toward medical applications and physical enhancements that rely on nanotechnology shows that support for the technology increases when the public is informed of the technology’s risks as well as its benefits — at least among those people who have heard of nanotechnology.

The survey, which was conducted by researchers at North Carolina State University and Arizona State University (ASU), also found that discussing risks decreased support among those people who had never previously heard of nanotechnology — but not by much.

For more information: Hiding Risks Can Hurt Public Support for Nanotechnology, Survey Finds