| This section of the report summarizes the findings and uses examples of participants’ comments or statements of concerns/benefits to illustrate the results. Data tables of full results are given in the Appendix. General Attitudes and Knowledge Low Awareness of Nanotechnology As in the 2004 studies, most people participating in the study had little initial awareness of nanotechnology. Answering the pre-study questionnaire, 54% professed to know almost nothing, 17% felt they knew something about nanotechnology, and 26% said they knew a little. Asked if nanotechnology is predicted to become another industrial revolution (true), 75% said “don’t know” and 24% answered “true.” Varied Sources of Knowledge Study participants were also asked about the sources of their information on nanotechnology, if they had any prior knowledge. When respondents identified only one source of knowledge, 22% said they had heard about nanotechnology from public television or radio, and 20% said they had heard about nanotechnology from another person. 14% had heard of nanotechnology from commercial television or radio news, 10% from science fiction, 8% from magazines and 8% from newspapers. If respondents had heard of nanotechnology from two sources, 28% mentioned magazines, 17% hearing from another person, 14% from science fiction, 11% from trade journals, and another 11% from public television or radio. Generally Positive Attitude towards Nanotechnology Initial attitudes towards nanotechnology prior to the study were investigated by asking “are you quite positive, mostly positive, neutral, mostly negative, or don’t know concerning your feelings about nanotechnology?” Initially, 38% were neutral, 13% were mostly positive, 41% answered “don’t know,” and less than 9% were either quite positive or mostly negative. After the study, 50% were mostly or quite positive, 32% remained neutral, 13% were mostly or quite negative, and 3% answered “don’t know.” Benefits will Exceed Risks Perceived risks of nanotechnology versus nanotechnology’s benefits were also tested in pre- and post-study questionnaire. After the study, 41% said the benefits should exceed the risks, 30% believed the risks and benefits would be about equal, 15% expected risks to exceed benefits, and 14% answered “don’t know.” Little Support for a Ban After they had learned about nanotechnology, participants were asked: “Should nanotechnology be banned until further study of possible risks?” 76% of the respondents said “a ban is overreacting.” An additional 16% said “don’t know;” 8% supported a ban of new nanotechnology products. Respondents’ Interests in Nanotechnology Benefits After reading informational materials on one of the four emergent applications areas of nanotechnology, study participants were asked to identify up to 5 areas of highest interest regarding the potential benefits of nanotechnology. These areas were written individually by study participants on a 5”x7” card, one benefit listed per card. The benefits of interest were clustered together as types of benefits (e.g., “treat cancer,” “reduce overuse of antibiotics,” “a cure for Alzheimers,” “could lead to a cure for HIV/AIDS,” are grouped in the benefit category of major medical uses). See the Appendix for more information on the analytic method used to summarize concerns and benefits. 1. Medical Applications of Greatest Interest: Study participants named as the top type of benefit major medical advances possible through nanotechnology (31% the of benefits identified). This included a wide range of possible applications from new diagnostic methods to treatments for cancer and diabetes. 2. Better Consumer Products: The second most frequently mentioned benefit group (27%), the consumer product category, contains potential benefits like “less toxic paint coatings,” “toothpaste to fill cavities,” “make life easier,” “trash bags that biodegrade” and “stain resistant clothing.” 3. General Progress. Benefits related to general progress account for 12% of benefits identified (general advancement - 5%, human race progress - 2%, and general knowledge advancement - 5%). 4. Environmental Protection: Environmental protection ranked fourth (8%) in benefits mentioned and includes such things as “less contaminated water,” “stop damage to the planet,” and “reduce waste, use less materials.” 5. Safer and Better Food: Food and nutrition benefits, the 5th most frequently named benefit (6%) includes “safer food,” (from smart packaging), “more nutritious food,” and the ability to “feed the world.” 6. Energy, Economy, Electronics: Energy benefits, the economy, and improved electronics and computing each garnered 4% of benefits envisioned. 7. Benefits to Soldiers, Security. Military uses and national security were mentioned in 3% of benefit comments. Table 1. Benefits Of Nanotechnology | | | Major medical uses | 31 | | Consumer products | 27 | | General progress* | 12 | | Environmental protection | 8 | | Food and nutrition | 6 | | Economy, jobs | 4 | | Energy | 4 | | Electronics, computers | 4 | | Military uses and national security | 3 | | Advancing international welfare | 1 | *Knowledge advancement 5%, Advance society 5%, Human race progress 2% |