webmaster@itas.fzk.de
Lynn Jayne Frewer
Lecture on the Workshop at the Research Centre Karlsruhe: "Risk Perception and Risk Communication in the Field of Nanotechnology", December 8, 2004
It is widely recognised that it is important to solicit the views of different actors in society regarding technology application and commercialisation. This is, in part, a response to broader recognition that societal values as well as technical risk assessment influence the acceptability of the products of new technologies. In addition, there has been a recent decline in consumer confidence associated with the process of technology-related risk assessment and management. Increased transparency in risk analysis is unlikely to increase consumer confidence unless the values bought to all three components (assessment, management and communication) are made explicit and communicated to society. There is empirical evidence that the relationship between consumer trust and consumer acceptance of emerging technologies is complex, and not necessarily causal. In addition, other factors (risk - benefit perceptions, communication of uncertainty, consumer pull, the role of affect in information processing) will also influence consumer acceptance of nanotechnology. The implications for the future commercialisation of nanotechnologies will be discussed.
Prof. Dr. Lynn Jayne Frewer
Marketing and Consumer Behaviour Group
Hollandsweg 1
6706 KN Wageningen
The Netherlands
Tel.: +31 (317) 48 29 63
Fax: +31 (317) 48 43 61
E-Mail:
Lynn.Frewer@wur.nl
webmaster@itas.fzk.de