Thinking in a brand new way: Exploring the epistemology of nanotechnology researchers

This paper investigates the modes of thinking that may be required to understand the concepts central to nanotechnology. Six senior scientists at a large Midwestern university were interviewed to uncover their way of thinking about nanotechnology. The semi-structured interviewers were coded and analyzed to identify the researchers' underlying concepts, ideas, and ways of thinking about nanoscale phenomena. In addition to confirming that previously identified concepts such as self-assembly are important for understanding nanoscience, interviews also pointed out that the concept of “defect” has a whole new meaning in nanomaterials. System thinking was also identified as central to understanding the nanoscale world.