Risk, Language, and Power: The Nanotechnology Environmental Policy Case

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dc.contributor.authorMorris, Jeffery Thomasen
dc.contributor.committeechairAllen, Barbara L.en
dc.contributor.committeememberHull, Robert Bruce IVen
dc.contributor.committeememberPatzig, Eileen Cristen
dc.contributor.committeememberHalfon, Saul E.en
dc.contributor.departmentScience and Technology Studiesen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:17:05Zen
dc.date.adate2010-11-10en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:17:05Zen
dc.date.issued2010-10-01en
dc.date.rdate2010-11-10en
dc.date.sdate2010-10-04en
dc.description.abstractIn this dissertation I explore discourse around the environmental risks of nanotechnology, and through this study of nanotechnology make the case that the dominance in risk discourse of regulatory science is limiting policy debate on environmental risks, and that specific initiatives should be undertaken to broaden debate not just on nanotechnology, but generally on the risks of new technologies. I argue that the treatment of environmental risk in public policy debates has failed for industrial chemicals, is failing for nanotechnology, and most certainly will fail for synthetic biology and other new technologies unless we change how we describe the impacts to people and other living things from the development and deployment of technology. However, I also contend that the nanotechnology case provides reason for optimism that risk can be given different, and better, treatment in environmental policy debates. I propose specific policy initiatives to advance a richer discourse around the environmental implications of emerging technologies. Evidence of enriched environmental policy debates would be a decentering of language concerning risk by developing within discourse language and practice directed toward enriching the human and environmental condition.en
dc.description.degreePh. D.en
dc.identifier.otheretd-10042010-225927en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-10042010-225927/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/29195en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartMorris_JT_D_2010_v2.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectchemical regimeen
dc.subjectnanomaterialen
dc.subjectstory lineen
dc.subjectdiscourse analysisen
dc.titleRisk, Language, and Power: The Nanotechnology Environmental Policy Caseen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineScience and Technology Studiesen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.namePh. D.en

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