Public perception of nanotechnology: a look at childhood, adolescence and youth

• Grant number: 06/07280-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2007
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2007
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Sandra Elena Murriello
• Grantee: Sandra Elena Murriello
• Host Investigator: Roberto Daniel Zysler
• Host Institution: Pessoa Física
• Research place: Centro Atómico Bariloche (CAB), Argentina

Abstract

This period abroad, at a reference research centre in the area of nanotechnology, intends to cooperate with public communication of this new area and with the development of researches on its public perception, from a Latin-American perspective. This field is expanding, with research of international level, given the growing importance assigned to its debate regarding the promises, risks and uncertainties of the technological innovations. Nevertheless, systematic information is still lacking as to the reality of Latin-American countries regarding perception of nanotechnology. As from the research started in the year 2005, with the support/backing of FAPESP, the imaginary of Brazilian children, teenagers and youngsters starts profiling. The proposal is, in this new phase, to start a similar exploration in Argentina, carrying out subsequent comparisons against Brazilian reality. With such an objective in mind, an exploratory study will be undertaken by means of research instruments such as questionnaires and in-depth interviews which will be analyzed through a qualitative view, for a further comparison with Brazilian data. During this period, efforts will be made to stimulate disclosure on nanotechnology in Argentina and it is intended to give a larger diffusion to the materials already produced for the NanoAdventure exhibition of the Museu Museu Exploratório de Ciências de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. (AU)