Scientists may argue that synthetic biology could create life-saving drugs or spawn malevolent bioterrorism agents but do average Americans even care? A survey released today suggests that while awareness of the burgeoning field is growing, Americans remain divided on whether the potential benefits of synthetic biology outweigh its perceived risks.
The poll, conducted on behalf of he Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington D.C. on 9 September asked 1,000 US residents about their opinions on synthetic biology and nanotechnology. In the case of the former, the results reveal a marked change over the past two years. Whereas only 1 in 10 Americans has some familiarity with synthetic biology in 2008, 1 in 4 did this year. This is not a surprise, the Center’s researchers say, given that the J. Craig Venter Institute’s 20 May announcement of a synthetic organism made international headlines.
Around a third of respondents had no opinion on the hazards of the field while roughly equal numbers judged the possible pluses and minuses about equal. The rest of respondents were about equally split between thinking synthetic biology is mainly safe and those thinking it’s a risky business. In this respect, the number have not changed much since 2008, suggesting that the recent spotlight on the field has not necessarily added a growing comfort level with its implications.
As in the previous two years, the poll also gauged the public’s trust in various government agencies that are likely to be involved in regulating synthetic biology. A notable change involved the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Last year, 59% of respondents expressed confidence in the EPA’s ability to minimize harm; this year the number has dropped to 51%. These results may be an arteifact of the poll’s timing as it was conducted on 5 August, when the EPA was frequently in the in news in connection Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The poll was part of the Wilson Center’s Synthetic Biology Project, which aims to get people talking about the advances of synthetic biology.
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Image: Hart Research Associates