Acronym NANOTRUST
Category
Aquaculture
Title Ethical conditions for a socially robust use of nanobiotechnology in aquaculture Programme National Programme
Instrument (FP6)
Contact Type (FP7)
Strand (Interreg)
NA
Theme (FP7)
Activity Area (FP6)
Regional Area (Interreg)
Action (COST)
NA
Specific Programme (FP7)
NA
Funding source National Coordinator Bjorn Kare Myskja Coordinator email bjorn.myskja@ntnu.no
Coordinator institution
NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norway)
Institutions involved
GenØk - Norwegian Institute of Gene Ecology (Norway) ,
NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norway) ,
Start year 2007 End year 2011 Funding (€) € 590,831 Website https://prosjektbanken.forskningsradet.no/en/project/FORISS/182046?Kilde=FORISS&distribution=Ar&chart=bar&calcType=funding&Sprak=no&sortBy=date&sortOrder=desc&resultCount=30&offset=420&TemaEmne.2=Nanoteknologi Summary Trust is a necessary prerequisite for social robust development and application of nanotechnology. New technologies as nanotechnology are framed by scientific uncertainty and ignorance both regarding positive and negative potentials of the technology. Independent research and development is only possible if politicians and the public have faith in the capabilities of science to handle these uncertainties. This requires that the scientists understand the impact of their activity as well as the limits to their knowledge and that a sound risk management is developed, but also that this knowledge is communicated in a way that enhances trust and that the scientists understand and accept public values and expectations for their activity. Hence, the proposed project aims to gather perspectives on risk, social values and expectations with regard to introduction of nanotechnology, using nanoparticles for delivery of vaccines as our case study. Nanoparticles (e.g. PLGA particles) as vaccine carrier for rapid and long-lasting immunisation have been successfully implemented in vaccination of mammalian species. This technology is recently applied to aquaculture by a project (FISHVACCPLAT, University of Tromsø) that will form a basis on the case study. The process will involve an ethical analysis of how trust can be a fundament for development and application of nanotechnology. We will explore the connections between technology approaches to scientific uncertainty of potential harm, scientific understanding of their own activity, how this is communicated to society, ways to engage the public in technology regulation and the relation between responsibility and trust connected to such risk management and communication.
This proposal seeks to explore the relation between the emerging field of nanoscience and society by discussing the case of nanotechnology applied delivery of vaccines in fish farming with particular focus on how to establish trust in the science. Sub-goals: (1) Analyse the potential benefits, risks and uncertainties with nanoparticles for delivery of vaccines with particular focus on scientific uncertainty; (2) Explore the conceptual framing of nanotechnology. Identification of how the scientists conceptualise their activity and how their understanding is communicated to the rest of the society; (3) Analyse the significance of transparency and public engagement for establishing a trust-based relation between nanoscience and the public. Different models for public engagement will be scrutinized; (4) Analyse trust and responsibility as fundamental ethical and political conditions for a socially robust nanoscience.
Keywords
Bioprospecting;
Biotechnology;
Fish;
Animal welfare;
Policy;
Vaccines development;
Marine Region
41
Norwegian Sea (27.IIa)
1
Marine Region Map
