UK Public Perception Of Nanotechnology - News Item

A recent study by the British Market Research Bureau found that just 29 percent of the U.K. public claim to have heard of nanotechnology, and only 19 percent are able to give it a definition, whether accurate or not. Of those who can offer a definition of nanotechnology, most believe it will make things better in the future.

BMRB recently conducted the study for The Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering Nanotechnology Working Group, to provide insight on the public`s views towards nanotechnology. The results of the poll were released in mid-March, coinciding with National Science Week in the U.K.

According to the opinion poll, 68 percent of the small group able to offer a definition of nanotechnology feel it would make things better in the future.

Commenting on the results, Professor Nick Pidgeon, a member of the working group on nanotechnology, said: "Nanotechnology involves studying and working with matter at an ultra-small scale, and a nanometre is just one-millionth of a millimetre in length. It is not really a shock to discover that most people have not heard about nanotechnology, because it is still a relatively young field. But it is perhaps a little surprising that of those people who know something about nanotechnology, most think it will have a beneficial effect on the future, in view of some of the media reports about the potential dangers of nanoparticles and nanobots turning the world into grey goo."

The Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering also jointly published the results of two workshops conducted by BMRB with the public to explore their views in more depth. These found that people responded both positively and negatively when the concept of nanotechnology was explained to them.

Posted 21^st April 2004