Agriculture and Nanoscale Science and Engineering: A Case Study for Knowledge Translation and Risk Communication
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Knowledge translation is a process and strategy that seeks to better connect knowledge producers with knowledge users by involving the latter in the research process. This research explored the role knowledge translation could play in improving the communication between those who conduct nanoscale science and engineering (NSE) research and those agriculture stakeholders who may ultimately use some of the resulting applications. To accomplish this, I interviewed 20 scientists involved with NSE research from across Cornell to establish the varying understandings and applications of NSE, how scientists define risk in NSE, and what they think the public should know about NSE. I used the results from these interviews to generate a brochure on what NSE is and how it might relate to agriculture. To incorporate knowledge translation philosophy into the research, I then interviewed 17 agricultural stakeholders to discern their knowledge of and interest in NSE, identify their agricultural problems and understand their view of emerging technologies. Their input on the brochure content, layout and design was instrumental in appropriately contextualizing the brochure so it would be of use to the stakeholder audience. Finally, I used the combination of the interviews with the scientists and the stakeholders to understand the various perspectives on and perceptions of NSE and gain insight on how to communicate about an emerging technology. These results enabled me to identify challenges for future knowledge translation work and determine how (and if) scientists and stakeholders can more effectively share their knowledge.