Societal Implications of Nanotechnology
Permanent URI for this collection
Recent Submissions
Publication Networks, Risk and Knowledge Sharing [Video](2008-10-03)What are the underlying and emergent structures and dynamics that shape opportunities and challenges in nanoscience and nanotechnology research and development? While research and development forges ahead, too little is understood by social scientists regarding management of risk, the role of social networks, and implications for policy and regulation of nanoscience and technology. To explore these and other questions, the Nanoscience and Society Research Group of the Science, Technology and Society Initiative convenes its second annual international workshop on October 3, 2008 at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The workshop, "Nanotechnology and Society: Emerging Opportunities and Challenges," brings together social scientists working at the frontiers of nanotechnology and society research whose work is primarily focused on social networks, the organization and management of risk, and knowledge sharing in science and technology with nanoscientists and technologists, industry experts and policymakers. Our objective is to move forward dialogue within the social sciences as well as among social scientists, nanoscientists and policy researchers. This workshop is supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0531171. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.Publication Nanotechnology and Society: The Organization and Policy of Innovation [Video](2007-05-17)Description: What are the critical issues for policy makers and society emerging from the nanotechnology revolution? To explore this and other questions, plan to join the Nanoscience and Society Research Group of the Science, Technology and Society Initiative at its first annual international workshop on May 17, 2007 at UMass Amherst. The workshop, "Nanotechnology and Society: The Organization and Policy of Innovation," features a set of high-level invited experts from throughout the United States and Europe including researchers and policy makers from the University of Surrey (UK), the University of Wisconsin, the National Institutes of Health, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and the UMass Amherst Foundation. Topics: The key topics to be addressed at this one-day workshop range from the organization and economics of nanotechnology research and development; the role of media in forming public opinion and policy; technological innovation and dispute resolution; to visual perception of nanoscale phenomena. A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter; DNA is 2 ½ nanometers in diameter. This workshop aims to communicate and advance the growing scholarly literature on the societal implications of nanotechnology, identify potential multidisciplinary research questions and opportunities for partnership as well as build a foundation for mutual communication and collaboration among scientists, engineers, and policy makers. Who should attend: The workshop and discussions are designed primarily for leaders drawn from government, universities, business, and nonprofits: scholars interested in the public policy implications of this emerging technology sector, local and state officials responsible for technology innovation and regulation, firms interested in public and regulatory response to this emerging technology sector, and students in such areas as public policy and administration, communication, law, business, and science and technology studies. Hosts and Support: The Nanotechnology and Society Workshop is funded by the National Science Foundation through grant number 0531171 and by a grant from the Research Leadership in Action (RLA) program in the Vice Provost’s Office at UMass Amherst. The STS Initiative is based at the Center for Public Policy and Administration in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at UMass Amherst. More about the Workshop - http://www.umass.edu/sts/nano/2007.htmlPublication Nanotechnology: Wave of the Future?(2007-01-01)Publication InterNano Nanomanufacturing Repository(2009-01-01)The Internano Nanomanufacturing Repository is a central digital repository of nanomanufacturing research and trade information for the nanomanfuacturing community. It is administered by the National Nanomanfuacturing Network and funded by the National Science Foundation. Central repositories—or subject, thematic, or disciplinary repositories—bring the scholarly outputs of a single domain together to a single point of access. Examples of central repositories include arXive, RePec, e-LIS, and PubMed. This site is powered by EPrints 3, free software developed by the University of Southampton.