University of Washington Social and Ethical Issues Research Team Update, November 2006
The Social and Ethical Issues in Nanotechnology (SEIN) research team at the Center for Workforce Development, University of Washington has made great strides toward furthering research on SEIN and has disseminated a great deal of research findings.
Dissemination of Research by University of Washington SEI team
Learning about Nanotechnology and the Social and Ethical Issues of Nanotechnology (SEIN)
Nanotechnology Annotated Bibliography
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Overview
SEIN Teacher’s guide
SEIN Student’s guide
Presentation to teach about SEIN
Principal Investigator: Suzanne G. Brainard
Project Manager: Elizabeth Litzler
Research Assistant: Caroline Hughes, Deborah Bassett
Public Health and Nanotechnology Perceptions
A research project entitled “Perceived Risks and Hazards of Nanotechnology Development – Comparisons among Faculty at the University of Washington Affiliated with Nanotechnology / Nanoscience and Environmental Health Science” was recently completed and submitted as a graduate student’s master’s thesis in public health.
This study surveyed University of Washington faculty associated with the Center for Nanotechnology or the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences. Faculty members (116) were invited to participate in an online or phone survey; 52 responded. The study objectives were to measure and evaluate differences between nanotechnologists/nanoscientists and environmental health scientists in behavior, knowledge, beliefs and attitudes relating to nano-development. The hypotheses were that 1) environmental health scientists would perceive greater risk and greater need for nano-development regulation and public awareness than would nanotechnologists/nanoscientists and that 2) nanotechnologists/nanoscientists would perceive greater benefit to nano-development than would environmental health scientists. Variances in knowledge, communication, and attitudes including trust, regulation and perceived benefits and risks were examined in order to better understand cross-disciplinary differences.
The results of this study mirrored previous findings (2004 Cobb and Macoubrie study and 2005 Macoubrie study) including that people with more knowledge of nanotechnology are more likely to think the benefits of nano-development will outweigh the risks, that there is a general lack of definition of nanotechnology among the field’s own community, and that there is lack of trust in regulatory agencies to prevent hazards from nano-development. Results of this study also confirm findings from preliminary interviews that there is a lack of definition for nanotechnology and that researchers are reluctant to identify themselves primarily with nanotechnology or nanoscience.
Executive Summary of Public Health and Nanotechnology Research
Work done on this topic includes:
Hughes, Caroline A. (2006). Perceived Risks and Hazards of Nanotechnology Development – Comparisons among Faculy at the University of Washington Affiliated with Nanotechnology / Nanoscience and Environmental Health Science. Master’s Thesis.
Hughes, Caroline A.; Gilbert, Steven G.; Meischke, Hendrika W.; Litzler, Elizabeth. Perceived Risks and Hazards of Nanotechnology. Accepted for Society of Toxicology Meeting 2007
Principal Investigator: Suzanne G. Brainard
Project Manager: Elizabeth Litzler
Research Assistant: Caroline Hughes
Identifying and Analyzing the Discourse(s) of Nanotechnology and Nanoscience
The research project entitled “Identifying and Analyzing the discourse(s) of nanotechnology and nanoscience” is ongoing. This project is the basis for Deborah Bassett’s Ph.D. dissertation in communication. Fieldwork and data collection phase of the project will be finished shortly.
The study intends to: conduct an ethnography of communication that identifies the various discourses about social and ethical implications of nanotechnology and nanoscience (SEIN), and in so doing, provide a taxonomy that enables researchers from different disciplinary backgrounds to engage with each other, as well as with the media, and the public at large in meaningful discussion about nanotechnology and nanoscience. Drawing upon literature in intercultural communication, this study will identify what issues related to SEIN are considered significant within different discourse communities (e.g., nanoscientists, social scientists, ethicists, popular media, the public at large, etc.), describe how these issues are talked about (e.g., what imagery or metaphors are used to discuss SEIN), and suggest ways in which the various discourses might be appropriated in order to promote collaboration among the discourse communities (e.g., an interdisciplinary research team).
Work done on this topic includes:
Bassett, D. “That’s just a scientist’s attitude”: Analyzing the authoritative discourse of nanoscience. (Under journal review)
Bassett, D. & Litzler, E. “Competing discourses of disruptive technologies: A case study.” Society for the Social Studies of Science Conference, Vancouver, B.C. November 2006
Bassett, D. & Litzler, E. “Competing discourses of disruptive technologies: A case study.” (Expected submission Jan. 2007 to Discourse & Society)
Bassett, D. “Cultural Codes in Science: Analyzing the Discourse(s) of Nanoscience/Nanotech”
Presented research in progress during seminar series for nanotechnology graduate students, UW, Fall 2005
Bassett, D. “Cultural Codes in Science: Analyzing the Discourse(s) of Nanoscience/Nanotech”
Native American Students in Advanced Academia annual conference, UW, Spring 2006
Bassett, D. “Cultural Codes in Science: Analyzing the Discourse(s) of Nanoscience/Nanotech”
Lecture to upper-division undergraduate communication class, UW, Spring 2006
Principal Investigator: Suzanne G. Brainard
Project Manager: Elizabeth Litzler
Research Assistant: Deborah Bassett
Interdisciplinary Communication
The work being done by the Center for Workforce Development on interdisciplinary communication is varied. The goal is to identify strategies for multi-disciplinary, cross-site collaboration and work within the NNIN team. A survey to assess communication and conflict management strategies within the NNIN organizational context has been developed, and should be administered sometime this year. The goal of this survey is to gain an understanding of how multi-disciplinary, cross-site communication works among the people associated with the NNIN grant at all involved institutions.
A workshop on diversity awareness is in development. The goal of this workshop is to give scientists and engineers working in nanotechnology the knowledge to be able to work effectively across disciplinary fields. For this workshop, diversity is defined very broadly, and includes diversity in background, experience, etc. This workshop is based on research literature on diversity awareness and multi-cultural communication. The workshop will be given to graduate students, faculty and staff at the University of Washington, and can also be given at other institutions.
Work done on this topic includes:
Bassett, D. (2004). “Promoting cooperation in the geographically-distributed, multidisciplinary research team: Using communication media to implement informal sanctioning measures.” National Communication Association 2005 Convention, Boston, MA, Nov. 2005
Bassett, D. “Cross-cultural considerations in negotiation: Towards a culturally-adaptive negotiation model.” (Under journal review).
Bassett, D. & Dutton, T. "A study of Fisher and Ury's negotiation model for intercultural interaction". (Invited presentation for Intercultural Communication Division panel.) National Communication Association 2006 Convention, San Antonio, TX.
Bassett, D. & Dutton, T. "A study of Fisher and Ury's negotiation model for intercultural interaction". (Expected submission December 2006 to Negotiation Journal.)
Principal Investigator: Suzanne G. Brainard
Project Manager: Elizabeth Litzler
Research Assistant: Deborah Bassett, Brianna Blaser
Nanotechnology Workforce
A survey focusing on the nanotechnology personnel needs of companies and current demographics of the nanotechnology workforce at these same companies is in development. A list of nanotechnology companies has been compiled, and the survey will be submitted for review by the Institutional Review Board at the University of Washington.
Some data on the future nanotechnology workforce has been collected from students in the University of Washington interdisciplinary nanotechnology Ph.D. program, and students who have taken nanotechnology courses.
Student perceptions of Social and Ethical Issues in Nanotechnology
Future Nanotechnology Workforce?
The Center for Workforce Development compiled the following information and it is currently listed on the University of Washington Center for Nanotechnology User Facility webpage. (https://depts.washington.edu/ntuf/issues/accomp.php)
- List of current Degree Programs in Nanotechnology
- www.Workingin-Nanotechnology.com lists 18 undergraduate nanotechnology courses, programs and conferences in the U.S.A.
- CWD has list of 28 institutions with at least one course in a nanotechnology related field.
- List of Nanotechnology Professional Associations
- List of Nanotechnology Academic Journals
- List of Nanotechnology companies (complete to ‘N’)
- Currently 125 companies, list not complete.
- List of popular media that feature nanotechnology
- Fiction, Film and Television lists
Principal Investigator: Suzanne G. Brainard
Project Manager: Elizabeth Litzler
Research Assistant: Judy Loveless Morris
Mentoring and Tracking of Nanotechnology Graduate Students
In 2001, The Center for Workforce Development (CWD) partnered with the Center for Nanotechnology (CNT) at the University of Washington to develop a system to track student progress through the new, interdisciplinary program in Nanotechnology and to create the Nanotechnology Graduate Student Mentoring Program. The report linked below is the fifth annual report from the Center for Workforce Development detailing the major findings from student tracking and from the mentoring evaluations.
The report for the 2004-2005 academic year indicated
- 80.2% of students throughout the cohorts report that their program of study is preparing them for both academic and non-academic career choices. 10.5% report preparation for academic careers only, 9.3% report preparation for non-academic careers only.
- Although many students (58%) see themselves in private industry after graduation, most (71%) are finding or choosing jobs in post-doctoral or other academic positions.
- Many students feel that the Nanotechnology Ph.D. program has positively and significantly impacted their career development (46.2%) and knowledge of nanotechnology (80.2%). However, only 11.4% report that the program has greatly expanded their industry contacts and interaction.
Executive Summary of 2005-2006 Report on Nano Mentoring Program and Tracking
Principal Investigator: Suzanne G. Brainard
Project Manager: Elizabeth Litzler
Research Assistant: Amy Wheeless , Brianna Blaser
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