LSC doctoral candidate Michael Cacciatore and John E. Ross Professor Dietram A. Scheufele investigate public gaps in nanotechnology knowledge in their forthcoming article in Public Understanding of Science. Their findings show that while nanotechnology knowledge gaps are forming between the least and most educated segments of society, increased science Internet use among low education groups can serve to close these gaps.
The work highlights the potential of the Internet for science outreach and for engaging traditionally underserved audiences about science issues.
The study – conducted in collaboration with Elizabeth Corley at Arizona State University – builds upon previous research Cacciatore, Scheufele and Corley have conducted concerning public perceptions of nanotechnology.
This material is based upon work supported by grants from the National Science Foundation to the Center for Nanotechnology in Society at Arizona State University (Grant No. SES-0531194) and the NIRT: Nanotechnology and its publics” (Grant No. SES-0403783). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
You can access the article here.