The Swinburne national technology and society monitor 2009

• Social Psychology Research Unit

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13 January 2010The Swinburne National Technology and Society Monitor (SNTSM) provides an annual 'snapshot' of public perceptions of new technologies, science and technological change. This annual telephone survey involves interviews with a representative sample of 1000 Australian adults from all states and territories.

The specific aims of the SNTSM are to:

• Gauge public attitudes and perceptions of emerging technologies and science in order to compare Australia with other countries.

• Examine attitudes toward controversial technologies (e.g., stem cell research, DNA paternity testing) and emerging technologies with important social consequences (e.g., the digital divide, internet relationships).

• Examine patterns of change in attitudes and perceptions over time, and explanations for these changing patterns.

The main findings of the 2009 Monitor are:

In general, Australians are comfortable with the rate of technological change in the world today.

Australians are not comfortable with nuclear power and non-renewable sources of energy. By contrast Australians are very comfortable with wind farms and renewable sources of energy.

Australians are more comfortable with the possibility of clean coal than with the Government’s proposed carbon emissions trading scheme.

The degree of comfort with genetically modified (GM) plants and animals for food remains relatively low.

Many Australians are not comfortable with using the Internet to meet new friends and even less comfortable with using the Internet to meet a romantic partner.

Australians trust scientific institutions and the non-commercial media for information about new technologies. They have less trust in major companies and the churches, with the least trust in the commercial media.

Australians report higher levels of trust in medical doctors than in mental health professionals.