The Fate of Biotechnology - a project at the Centre for Sustainability

The Fate of Biotechnology: Why do some of the public reject novel scientific technologies?

Principal investigator:Professor Hugh Campbell

Staff involved: Hugh Campbell, Janet Grice

Brief abstract

The Fate of Biotechnology research project emerged from a series of new research initiatives and funding areas resulting from recommendations by the Royal Commission on GM in 2001. One key area of weakness was the lack of social scientific research into public attitudes to GMOs.

This project deployed series of national surveys to gauge public attitudes and responses to various GMO development scenarios. The key methodology was the Theory of Planned Behaviour, which was deployed to try and gauge future public sentiments towards new technologies.