摘要
Even though there is a high degree of
scientific uncertainty about the risks of nanotechnol ogy, many scholars have argued that policy-making
cannot be placed on hold until risk assessments are
complete (Faunce, Med J Aust 186(4):189–191, 2007;
Kuzma, J Nanopart Res 9(1):165–182, 2007; O’Brien
and Cummins, Hum Ecol Risk Assess 14(3):568–592,
2008; Powell et al., Environ Manag 42(3):426–443,
2008). In the absence of risk assessment data, decision
makers often rely on scientists’ input about risks and
regulation to make policy decisions. The research we
present here goes beyond the earlier descriptive studies
about nanotechnology regulation to explore the heu ristics that the leading U.S. nanoscientists use when
they make policy decisions about regulating nanotech nology. In particular, we explore the relationship
between nanoscientists’ risk and benefit perceptions
and their support for nanotech regulation. We conclude
that nanoscientists are more supportive of regulating
nanotechnology when they perceive higher levels
of risks; yet, their perceived benefits about
nanotechnology do not significantly impact their
support for nanotech regulation. We also find some
gender and disciplinary differences among the nano scientists. Males are less supportive of nanotech
regulation than their female peers and materials
scientists are more supportive of nanotechnology
regulation than scientists in other fields. Lastly, our
findings illustrate that the leading U.S. nanoscientists
see the areas of surveillance/privacy, human enhance ment, medicine, and environment as the nanotech
application areas that are most in need of new
regulations.
中文摘要
尽管纳米技术的风险存在高度的科学不确定性，但许多学者认为，在风险评估完成之前，政策制定不能暂停（Faunce，Med J Aust 186（4）：189-1912007；Kuzma，纳米颗粒研究杂志9（1）：165-1822007；O'Brienand Cummins，人类生态风险评估14（3）：568–5922008；Powell等人，环境管理42（3）：426–44320.008）。在缺乏风险评估数据的情况下，决策者通常依靠科学家对风险和监管的投入来做出政策决策。我们在这里的研究超越了早期关于纳米技术监管的描述性研究，探索了美国领先的纳米科学家在做出监管纳米技术的政策决策时使用的方法。特别是，我们探讨了纳米科学家的风险和收益感知与他们对纳米技术监管的支持之间的关系。我们得出的结论是，当纳米科学家发现
