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College Hosts Workshop on Risk

Scholars Discuss Nanotechnology and Climate Change

            "Communicating Risks and Uncertainties: Nanotechnology, Climate Change, and Synthetic Biology," a nationwide workshop on risk communication and emerging technologies, was held in Greenspun Hall in January. Some 30 researchers from across the country attended the interdisciplinary workshop, funded by the National Science Foundation, to discuss effective ways of communicating risk and science information to the public.

            The keynote address, "Reasonable Expectations and the Ethics of Communicating Risk: Settled Norms, Open Questions and Enduring Dilemmas," was delivered by Paul Thompson, W.K. Kellogg Chair in Agricultural, Food and Community Ethics at Michigan State University. Thompson serves as principal investigator on a National Science Foundation project that examines ethical issues associated with the development of nanotechnologies in agriculture and food.

            Workshop discussions concerned the challenges of communicating risks in highly complex and uncertain areas such as nanotechnology, climate change, and synthetic biology. participants also shared research findings from current research on public engagement in technology policy, media coverage of emerging technology, and public opinion studies

            "The workshop served as a springboard for future research on public perceptions of issues that have a real and significant impact on our environment and health. We need to find ways of accurately communicating the risks of emerging technologies to the public," said workshop organizer Professor Susanna Priest of the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies. For more information, contact Professor Priest at susanna.priest@unlv.edu.


 

January 21, 2009


Greenspun Hall


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