Title: Science medialisation in a reluctant knowledge-based economy: the case of biotechnology in New Zealand

Authors: Lisa Callagher, Kenneth Husted

Addresses: Department of Management and International Business, University of Auckland Business School, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand. ' Department of Management and International Business, University of Auckland Business School, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand

Abstract: In the shift towards the knowledge economy, the increased role and value placed on science is associated with an increased medialisation of science. This paper examines how biotechnology is medialised in the context of New Zealand, a society whose knowledge-based development is characterised by belated political reforms, low to medium levels of R&D investment in general and low levels of industry-based R&D in particular. We apply three dimensions of medialisation – extensiveness, pluralisation and controversy – to examine how biotechnology has been medialised in New Zealand over a 15 year period. We discuss how knowledge-based development systems moderate the medialisation of science.

Keywords: knowledge-based development; KBD; public understanding of science; medialisation; biotechnology; New Zealand; NZ; knowledge economy; extensiveness; pluralisation; controversy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJKBD.2010.035660

International Journal of Knowledge-Based Development, 2010 Vol.1 No.3, pp.222 - 241

Published online: 01 Oct 2010 *

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