Stay Informed - Get Involved
Nanotechnology research has transformed our fundamental knowledge of the material world. Such historic developments offer extraordinary promise in translation of basic knowledge into concrete applications. Such knowledge also offers opportunities for important discussion and thoughtful critical response to public health and safety issues.
How will technological knowledge drive policy, practice, and culture as we collectively confront the ethical, legal, and social implications of nanoscience research? How can we ensure equal access to these new technologies, attend to human rights and autonomous consent of subjects, and maintain the fragile freedom of the research enterprise itself? These are just some of the questions that scientists, engineers, ethicists, social scientists, public policy officials and others are hoping to answer.
While the basic research in nanotechnology is being conducted by scientists and engineers from a wide variety of backgrounds, the ethics and policy community is turning its attention to the social and ethical implications.
For example, the Nanoscale Science & Engineering Center (NSEC) headquartered at Northwestern University is putting together an interdisciplinary team of researchers in philosophy, theology, social science, public policy, and the humanities. The team will conduct workshops to develop new methods and/or premises to address the challenges in nanotechnology. They will also lead annual Town Hall Meetings, which will be open to the public.
How can you stay informed or get involved?
How will technological knowledge drive policy, practice, and culture as we collectively confront the ethical, legal, and social implications of nanoscience research? How can we ensure equal access to these new technologies, attend to human rights and autonomous consent of subjects, and maintain the fragile freedom of the research enterprise itself? These are just some of the questions that scientists, engineers, ethicists, social scientists, public policy officials and others are hoping to answer.
While the basic research in nanotechnology is being conducted by scientists and engineers from a wide variety of backgrounds, the ethics and policy community is turning its attention to the social and ethical implications.
For example, the Nanoscale Science & Engineering Center (NSEC) headquartered at Northwestern University is putting together an interdisciplinary team of researchers in philosophy, theology, social science, public policy, and the humanities. The team will conduct workshops to develop new methods and/or premises to address the challenges in nanotechnology. They will also lead annual Town Hall Meetings, which will be open to the public.
How can you stay informed or get involved?
- Check to see if a nearby college or university in your area has a societal/ethical program on nanotechnology. If so, see if they have programs that are open to the public and attend. For more information about the societal/ethical program mentioned above please visit www.nsec.northwestern.edu
- Keep your eyes open for new advances. There are a number of reliable sources of information including the National Nanotechnology Initiative (www.nano.gov) and the National Science Foundation (www.nsf.gov) web sites, magazines like Scientific American, Science, or Nature. For a list of other sources on the Internet click here.
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