The reports are results of research projects into the attitudes of members of the community in relation to the implementation of enabling technologies and the awareness of these technologies. These research projects focus on key issues in enabling technologies, nanotechnology and biotechnology.
Some of the reports shown on this page are available online only as PDF files. If you are unable to access these, please contact us and we will send an alternative version.
Nanotechnology Research
Community Awareness
Community Awareness Survey 2012
In March 2013 the Government released Community attitudes “Community attitudes towards emerging technology issues – Nanotechnology”. The research examined the public’s existing attitudes and understanding of nanotechnology, including its current uses and sources of trusted information on the issues.
Sun Screen use survey
In January 2012, the department conducted a survey on the awareness and perception of Australians on the use of sunscreens containing nanoparticles.
- 2012 Sunscreen Survey Results [
PDF 1.6MB ] [
DOC 3.3MB]
- Survey Results filtered by gender, whether sunburned in the past year and if the participants had heard media coverage of nanoparticles in sunscreen. [PDF 2.8MB ] [DOC 3.2MB]
Community Awareness Survey 2011
In August 2011 the Government released "Australian Community Attitudes Held about Nanotechnology – Trends 2005-2011". This public awareness survey was commissioned to assess the Australian public's knowledge of and views about nanotechnology, and compares the changes of public attitudes towards nanotechnology from 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2011. This survey supersedes the former report released in 2010 (see below).
Community Awareness Survey 2010
In February 2010, the Government released "Australian Community Attitudes Held about Nanotechnology – Trends 2005-2010". The video is presented by Dr Craig Cormick, Manager of the Public Awareness section of the National Enabling Technologies Strategy.
Industry Awareness Survey (2005-2006)
Industry surveys were carried out in 2005 and 2006 to gauge the level of awareness and understanding of nanotechnology issues among targeted firms with a potential interest in nanotechnology. Both the 2005 and the 2006 surveys were undertaken jointly by the Department of Innovation and Nanotechnology Victoria.
Public Engagement
Communicating with citizens about nanotechnologies: Views of key stakeholders in Australia (2010)
A report of the findings from nationwide consultation into nanotechnologies and public communication and engagement in Australia. The consultation consisted of interviews with a range of stakeholders, including scientists and representatives from industry, government and non-government organisations (NGOs).
The aim was to look at what key stakeholders think should to be conveyed to the various publics, and the form and means it should be done in. The report details participants’ perspectives on the meaning of both ‘public engagement’ and ‘upstream public engagement’, the challenges (if any) in communicating with publics about nanotechnologies, and the relationship between participants’ perspectives and international efforts, as well as emerging best-practice models for public engagement.
- Views of key stakeholders in Australia 2010 report [PDF 756KB]
Biotechnology Research
Research prior to June 2008 was conducted by Biotechnology Australia, which ceased operation on June 30, 2008.
Community Awareness
Community Awarenes Survey 2012
Community Attitudes towards Emerging TechnoloIn March 2013 the Government released Community attitudes “Community attitudes towards emerging technology issues – Biotechnology”. The report provides a review of the public’s understanding and attitudes toward Genetically Modified food, along with a demographic breakdown of those opinions. Other areas covered in the survey include opinions towards food regulation, and other uses of biotechnology such as stem cells.
Community Attitudes to Biotechnology 2010
Public Attitudes to Biotechnology in Australia was released on 25 October 2010, as the Government's findings from the 2010 survey into the Australian public's attitudes towards biotechnology. The survey reveals that consistent with the 2007 findings the public continues to support biotechnologies that provide health or environmental benefits.
Support for genetically modified (GM) foods has dropped since 2007 and is the least supported of the biotechnologies. Despite this the perceived the benefits of GM foods still outweighs the risks and GM foods receive more public support than foods containing preservatives and foods grown with pesticides.
Other biotechnologies of key interest to the public include genetic modification (GM), cloning, stem cell research and using organisms to clean up pollution. Other key findings include an increased public trust of Australian regulators and a drop in perceived value of using biotechnologies to address climate change and to produce biofuels.
Community Attitudes to Biotechnology 2007
Community Attitudes to Biotechnology 2005
Community Attitudes to Biotechnology 2003
- Overall Perceptions of Biotechnology and General Applications 2003 report [PDF 873KB]
Community Attitudes to Biotechnology 1999
- Overall Perceptions of Biotechnology and General Applications 1999 report [PDF 41KB] [
DOCX 182KB]
Biotechnology Developments
Agricultural Biotechnology Developments: Past, Present and Future
This 2008 publication explains the use of biotechnology in agriculture and related industries, focusing on Australian examples. Each section contains background information, a timeline of developments, potential applications, current research areas, issues and future directions. Words printed in bold text are defined in the glossary at the end of the publication.
Issues in Biotechnology
Hopeful Journeys: Experiences of Stem Cell Treatments Offered Outside Australia (2010)
This report details findings from a nationwide study of the experiences of patients and carers who have travelled overseas for stem cell therapies, a practice often referred to as ‘stem cell tourism’. The principal aim of this project was to identify what the are key factors in the decision of Australian patients to travel overseas for stem cell treatments not currently available at home (largely because they are experimental or (scientifically) unproven).
Hopeful journeys: Experience of Stem Cell Treatments Offered Outside Australia [
PDF 830KB]