Biotechnology in the Public Sphere: A U.S. Perspective

Michigan State University, East Lansing MI

Investigators

Abstract

Biotechnology and genetic engineering have become major social issues in the United States and around the world. In 1998, Durant, Bauer, and Gaskell published Biotechnology in the Public Sphere, which contained profiles of twelve European nations in terms of public perceptions, policy decisions, and media discourse. At that time, a collaboration with researchers in the U.S. was developed, leading to another book to be released in the Fall 2001, which contains surveys conducted in 17 European nations, Canada, and the U.S. Another round of surveys to measure public perceptions is scheduled to take place in late 2001 or early 2002. These surveys will help to understand from a longitudinal perspective how the public is changing (ornot changing) their views towards such things as genetically modified crops,medical biotechnology, and food containing genetically engineered products. This project will support a national telephone survey within the U.S. and will be coordinated with the comparable survey in Europe. This survey will also support analysis and publications aimed at not only gaining an insight into the issue of biotechnology, but also social change and the social construction of social problems.