Sociological Aspects of Engineered NanoMaterial Environmental Risk and Perception
Research team: Barbara Herr Harthorn, Mary Collins
This projects aims to conduct sociological analysis of risk management challenges for nanotech research
and governance organizations. Using a widely cited theoretical concept of organizational failure
(or recreancy) developed by environmental sociologist Freudenburg, project aims to apply recreancy
assessment to the emergent nanotech organizational field to anticipate (and hence avert) problems
experienced in past technological hazard management cases. In specific nanotech case analyses, project
aims to provide early warnings about recreancy by conducting focused comparative analysis of risk
message framing by the media of nanotechnologies and comparative other technologies. And, in a key
downstream case, aims to use spatial analysis (GIS) to study potential environmental equity issues in US
nano remediation efforts.
Project Soc-2 connects to the CEIN as a whole (as a social institution, subject to recreancy); in its study of
downstream nanoremediation of environmental toxins in soil and water, it links to work in Themes 3, 4,
and 5; the implications of its work connect to CEIN societal implications and Outreach program aims;
and this project links closely with Soc-1 which will include a focus on nanoremediation applications in its
Phase 2.
Project develops a theoretical framework for studying nano institutional recreancy and responsibility,
now complete. Sources of likely institutional failure in managing the risks of nanotechnologies include
lack of attention to public concerns, lack of transparency about risks, collusion between government and
industry that compromises risk assessment reliability.
Project provides case analyses of potential recreancy/institutional failure and risk amplification—and
finds that nanotech risk messaging in the media has been more balanced in provision of risk and benefit
information about nanotechnologies than in predecessor nuclear technologies, and hence less likely to
produce amplification and mistrust; and that nanoremediation projects have also apparently balanced
risk and benefit demographically in an equitable way.
Project aims to assist CEIN in avoiding recreancy problems and conflict in delivering on its mission.
Baseline studies on nano risk messaging and nanoremediation indicate CEIN as a partner in government
risk assessment (and eventual risk management) enters a relatively level playing field, without
significant trust disrupting or risk amplifying processes. New case analysis on nanoremediation intends
to aid CEIN in considering locational and distributional issues about risks and benefits of ENMs as factors
in risk perception and institutional responsibility regarding safe development, while adding to the
Center’s profile of downstream, application-based research. This case provides preliminary evidence of
equitability in risk/benefit distribution that CEIN could call on in providing examples of responsible
development in response to public concerns.