Nanotechnology as a Tool for Science and Scientific Literacy

This chapter combines findings from science education and communications to assess whether nanotechnology is an ideal topic to improve science and scientific literacy. It differentiates science from scientific literacy and discusses them with respect to technical audiences and the general public. Framing the social narrative around emerging technologies is critical for improving the scientific literacy of any audience, even when done at the expense of increasing science content knowledge. The role of technical experts in educating the general public is discussed, and the chapter concludes with practical perspectives for nanotechnology practitioners—the scientists, engineers, and educators who specialize in nanotechnology.