| North Carolina State University
 PCOST 2011 |
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| PCOST- Public Communication of Science & Technology |
The Public Communication of Science & Technology (PCOST) Project was developed to improve public communication on science and technology, specifically emerging technologies such as nanotechnology, bionanotechnology, neurotechnology, and synthetic biology. Public communication in these fields must confront challenges that fall into two broad categories. First, emerging technologies are a substantial challenge given high levels of uncertainties. Whether we are talking about synthetic biology, neurotechnologies, nanotechnologies, nanomedicine, bionano or nanobiotechnologies, biotechnologies, etc., we have blustering advocates who hyperbolize the anticipated consequences and underinformed critics many of whom engage their own tirades on globalization, rich-poor gaps, digital divides, privacy encroachments, etc. We need to find ways to make decisions under moderate levels of uncertainty that secure human and environmental health and safety without foregoing the benefits of development and higher standards of living. Second, the Internet and social media have changed the playing field. Traditional work in our field came from research undertaken on newspapers, magazine articles and television and how they affect the formation of perception and opinion. The Internet has complicated our understanding of the role played by media as both an attenuator and an amplifier of risk messages. Recent data indicates a significant trend towards netnews at the expense of traditional sources. Most recently, we see social media in the likes of Facebook, blogging and microblogging (Twitter), and YouTube. For scholars in risk communication both the arrival of the Internet and social media has changed the landscape of what we do. We need to find ways to link public interest, attention, and perception through these new media forms. Professor David Berube currently serves as the Director of PCOST. The project is recruiting members and will petition to become a Center/Institute in the near future. In addition, PCOST is excited to be moving to the brand new James B. Hunt Library on the Centennial campus as soon as the library is completed. Please visit our new YouTube channel to view presentations by PCOST members. |
Latest News
April 20: PCOST has confirmed it will be moving to the brand new
James B. Hunt Library in late 2012.
December 4-7: Professor Berube and Christopher Cummings
will be presenting at the Society for Risk Analysis conference
in Charleston, SC. Professor Berube is the head of the Risk
Communication division.
November 2-5 - PCOST faculty and students will be heading
to Cleveland to present at the 36th annual Society for Social
Studies of Science Conference.
April 15 - PCOST faculty and students participated in the
2011 Symposium on Environments, Risks, and Digital
Media hosted by NCSU's Ph.D. program in Communication,
Rhetoric, and Digital Media.
Read more...
April 12 - PCOST Director, Dr. David Berube, was the
featured speaker at the
April 12 Periodic Tables event
hosted by the NC Museum of Life and Science.
Read more...
March 26 - PCOST RAs presented hands-on
demonstrations about nanoscience at the NC Museum of
Life and Science's NanoDays event.
Read more...
March 21 - PCOST RA, Christopher Cummings, was invited
to present at the 2011 NCSU Graduate Research
Symposium. Read more...
PCOST has implemented a new hiring policy for graduate
research assistants.
Recent publications by PCOST researchers:
Berube, D.M., Cummings, C.L., Frith, J.H., Binder, A.R.,
Oldendick, R.W. (2011). Comparing nanoparticle
risk perceptions to other known EHS risks. Journal
of Nanoparticle Research, Online First: 19 Mar 2011.
doi:10.1007/s11051-011-0325-z
Berube, D.M., Cummings, C., Cacciatore, M., Scheufele, D.,
& Kalin, J. (2011). Characteristics and classification of
nanoparticles: Expert Delphi survey. Nanotoxicology,
5(2): 236-243.
doi:10.3109/17435390.2010.521633
Binder, A. R., Cacciatore, M. A., Scheufele, D. A., Shaw, B. R.,
& Corley, E. A. (2011). Measuring risk/benefit perceptions
of emerging technologies and their potential impact on
communication of public opinion toward science. Public
Understanding of Science, 20(2): 1-18.
Binder, A. R., Scheufele, D. A., Brossard, D., & Gunther, A. C.
(2011). Interpersonal amplification of risk? Citizen
discussions and their influence on perceptions of risks and
benefits of a biological research facility. Risk Analysis,
21(2): 324-334.
doi: 10.1111/j.1539-6924.2010.01516.x
Ho, S. S., Binder, A. R., Becker, A. B., Moy, P., Scheufele, D. A.,
Brossard, D., et al. (in press). The role of perceptions of
media bias in general and issue-specific political participation.
Mass Communication and Society.