Misplaced faith - Communication variables as predictors of encouragement for biotechnology development

Science communicators and the broader scientific community often expect med ia information campaigns to mold attitudes about science and technology in predictable ways. But resistance to technology is not always based on ignor ance, and the ability of media-based education to directly shape opinions i s actually quite limited. This article uses data from a recent U.S. nationa l survey on opinions about biotechnology to argue that trust in institution al actors is a bigger factor than genetic knowledge in predicting encourage ment for specific applications of biotechnology. The results have implicati ons for the practice of science, as well as for the practice of science com munication.