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Michael D. Mehta
Lecture on the Workshop at the Research Centre Karlsruhe: "Risk Perception and Risk Communication in the Field of Nanotechnology", December 8, 2004
Like with other technologies that came beforehand, nanotechnology is outpacing our collective ability to direct and understand it. If we look back at developments in nuclear technology, information technology and biotechnology there appears to be a fairly consistent pattern of development, use, regulation, social concern and ultimately some form of resolution. All modern technologies, and perhaps even non-modern ones, move through a series of stages like this. This said, it is worth noting that not all technologies survive these transitions. Some technologies like civilian nuclear power (especially in the United States, Canada and the UK) and agricultural biotechnology (so-called GM foods) stall in their tracks, and represent case-studies for people in business schools and elsewhere on commercial failure. With nanotechnology, much is at stake. Since nanotechnology crosses over into so many disciplines, potential and actual business ventures, and is converging very strongly with biotechnology in particular, challenges on how to communicate risks and benefits also emerge. This presentation will explore how technological convergence poses unique challenges to risk communication, and how it may stimulate new avenues for developing risk perception and communication research.
Dr. Michael D. Mehta
Department of Sociology
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK
Canada S7N 5A5
Tel.: 306-966-6917
Fax: 306-966-6950
E-Mail:
michael.mehta@usask.ca
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