Atoms, Bytes and Genes Public Resistance and Techno-Scientific Responses

"Atom," "byte" and "gene" are metonymies for techno-scientific developments of the 20th century: nuclear power, computing and genetic engineering. Resistance continues to challenge these developments in public opinion. This book traces historical debates over atoms, bytes and genes which raised controversy with consequences, and argues that public opinion is a factor of the development of modern techno-science. The level and scope of public controversy is an index of resistance, examined here with a "pain analogy" which shows that just as pain impacts movement, resistance impacts techno-scientific mobilization: it signals that something is wrong, and this requires attention, elaboration and a response to the challenge. This analysis shows how different fields of enquiry deal with the resistance of social-psychological mentalities in the face of industrial, scientific and political activities inspired by projected futures.

1. Introduction: Movement Redirected by Resistance 2. Mobilising a Different Future 3. The Atom: Bombs and Power 4. Environment, Safety and Sustainability 5. Ten Propositions on Learning from Resistance 6. The "Bytes" of Mainframes, PC and Social Media 7. Public Opinion and Its Discontents 8. Genes, Biotechnology and Genomics 9. Some Further Observations on Resistance. Appendix 1: Notes on Social Movement and Social Influence. Appendix 2: Chronologies of Atoms, Bytes and Genes.

Martin W. Bauer is Professor of Social Psychology at London School of Economics and Political Sciences andthe Editor of Public Understanding of Science.