Initiatives médiatiques pour baliser le développement des nanotechnologies : une enquête qualitative auprès des journalistes et des chercheurs en nanobiotechnologies
Thanks to nanotechnologies, mankind can control matter at the nanometer scale, on the level of individual atoms and molecules. Materials obtained following these nanoscale manipulations demonstrate novel properties with the potential for application to all scientific and technological disciplines. Nanotechnologies are therefore often considered a foundation for a deep technological and social revolution. However, while nanotechnologies interest investors, government, private enterprises and universities, they also raise ethical questions, particularly regarding their toxicity, their outcome and the modification of human beings. On top of these ethical questions several other interrogations arise with respect to the governance of nanotechnologies: how, indeed, should their development be initially monitored in order to avoid eventual negative consequences in the future? Among these many questions, the role of the media in the relations between the developers of nanotechnologies and the public is often mentioned. Some see in the media an actor that researchers might refer to in order to establish a dialogue with the public to insure a harmonious development of nanotechnologies. While this recommendation seems very relevant, no empirical study exists to our knowledge to assess its feasibility among the concerned stakeholders (researchers, media). Within the scope of this thesis, we thus wanted to examine and analyze the perception of researchers and journalists from Quebec towards media initiatives to monitor the development of nanotechnologies. To do so, we proceeded to perform a qualitative study with twenty (20) researchers in the fields of nanobiotechnology/nanomedicine and ten (10) journalists specialized in scientific popularization. The analysis of interviews with responders revealed that while the concerned parties are in favour of these initiatives, there are several constraints that may impede such an enterprise.  Following the study of these constraints, we have suggested concrete initiatives that Quebec researchers may implement in order to better monitor the development of nanotechnologies through a dialogue with the public. These suggestions mainly consist in creating private media for researchers, resorting to independent media and engaging the World Wide Web. Such initiatives, however, can only be obtained at the price of a realignment of researchers’ priorities.
Bioethics Researcher Media Ethics Journalist Media Nanoethics Nanotechnologie Nanotechnology Nanobiotechnology Nanomedicine Nanoscience