Nanoethics, Science Communication, and a Fourth Model for Public Engagement

Area of Science:

• Science and Technology Studies
• Bioethics
• Sociology of Science

Background:

• Traditional models of public engagement often position the public as passive consumers of scientific information.
• Emerging technologies like nanoscience present complex ethical and societal challenges requiring broader public input.
• The role of digital platforms in science communication and public participation is increasingly significant.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel model for public engagement with science centered on participatory bioethics.
• To investigate the potential of social media as a tool for enhancing scientific agency and co-production of knowledge.
• To explore how this model can foster scientific citizenship and engagement with the implications of emerging technologies.

Main Methods:

• Development of a theoretical model for public engagement.
• Analysis of social media's capacity to empower users and facilitate knowledge co-production.
• Case study approach using nanoscience and nanotechnology as an exemplar.

Main Results:

• Social media can empower individuals, shifting them from passive audiences to active co-producers of scientific knowledge.
• Participatory bioethics, facilitated by social media, nurtures scientific agency and promotes scientific citizenship.
• The model is applicable to managing public engagement with emerging technologies.

Conclusions:

• A new model of public engagement with science is presented, emphasizing participatory bioethics and social media.
• Social media platforms are effective tools for fostering scientific agency, knowledge co-production, and scientific citizenship.
• This approach offers a framework for navigating the societal implications of emerging technologies.