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New Study Of Nanotechnology - The Small-scale Science
June 11, 2003The Government has today launched a new independent study to examine in detail the benefits and risks of nanotechnology. The technology involves working with materials on the nanoscale - 80,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair. Nanotechnology has the potential to improve our health and wealth but it is important that any necessary regulatory framework is in place early on.
Science Minister Lord Sainsbury has commissioned the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering to conduct the independent study to:
· summarise the current scientific knowledge on nanotechnology;
· identify applications of nanotechnology, both currently and potentially, with indications of when they might be developed;
· consider environmental, health and safety, ethical and social implications of the technology, both now and in the future; and
· suggest areas where additional regulation should be considered.
Lord Sainsbury said:
"Nanotechnology has the potential to create huge benefits in many areas, but we need to understand whether it raises new ethical, health and safety, or social issues which are not covered by current regulations.
"I have, therefore, commissioned the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering to look at current and future developments in nanotechnology and report on whether we need to introduce new regulations. This report could then be the basis for a wider public debate. I would also like to thank Ann Dowling for agreeing to take this work forward."
The study will be chaired by Ann Dowling, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Cambridge University. A working group will be appointed shortly to reflect the wide range of disciplines required to consider the questions which have been posed, including ethical, social and regulatory considerations as well as science and engineering. The group will also approach wider stakeholder groups for input including academia, industry, interest groups and the public.
Public engagement will be included in the study in the form of focus groups, a questionnaire survey and an online discussion forum to ensure that public concerns are addressed. The final report of the study will be put into the public domain and be freely available on the Royal Society website.
The study has been commissioned as part of the Government's response to recommendations by the Better Regulation Task Force in its report 'Scientific Research: Innovation with Controls', published in January this year. The Task Force's report and the Government response can be found on the BRTF website at http://www.brtf.gov.uk/taskforce/pastreports.htm
Nanotechnology is about making things smaller, faster, stronger, more energy efficient or with new and useful properties. Examples of potential uses include:
· improved treatment of disease through 'targeted drug delivery' - precision delivery of medicine to affected cells;
· faster computers with greater data storage - computers that can hold and access quickly vast amounts of data, far greater than is currently possible;
· new materials that are lighter, stronger, more energy efficient and/or cheaper to produce; and
· nano-glass that cleans itself with the aid of water and sunlight.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
· identify applications of nanotechnology, both currently and potentially, with indications of when they might be developed;
· consider environmental, health and safety, ethical and social implications of the technology, both now and in the future; and
· suggest areas where additional regulation should be considered.
Lord Sainsbury said:
"Nanotechnology has the potential to create huge benefits in many areas, but we need to understand whether it raises new ethical, health and safety, or social issues which are not covered by current regulations.
"I have, therefore, commissioned the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering to look at current and future developments in nanotechnology and report on whether we need to introduce new regulations. This report could then be the basis for a wider public debate. I would also like to thank Ann Dowling for agreeing to take this work forward."
The study will be chaired by Ann Dowling, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Cambridge University. A working group will be appointed shortly to reflect the wide range of disciplines required to consider the questions which have been posed, including ethical, social and regulatory considerations as well as science and engineering. The group will also approach wider stakeholder groups for input including academia, industry, interest groups and the public.
Public engagement will be included in the study in the form of focus groups, a questionnaire survey and an online discussion forum to ensure that public concerns are addressed. The final report of the study will be put into the public domain and be freely available on the Royal Society website.
The study has been commissioned as part of the Government's response to recommendations by the Better Regulation Task Force in its report 'Scientific Research: Innovation with Controls', published in January this year. The Task Force's report and the Government response can be found on the BRTF website at http://www.brtf.gov.uk/taskforce/pastreports.htm
Nanotechnology is about making things smaller, faster, stronger, more energy efficient or with new and useful properties. Examples of potential uses include:
· improved treatment of disease through 'targeted drug delivery' - precision delivery of medicine to affected cells;
· faster computers with greater data storage - computers that can hold and access quickly vast amounts of data, far greater than is currently possible;
· new materials that are lighter, stronger, more energy efficient and/or cheaper to produce; and
· nano-glass that cleans itself with the aid of water and sunlight.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
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Caltech scientists develop DNA origami nanoscale breadboards for carbon nanotube circuits
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New 'finFET' promising for smaller transistors, more powerful chips
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Magnetic nanoparticles to simultaneously diagnose, monitor and treat
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Breakthrough in industrial-scale nanotube processing
Rice University scientists today unveiled a method for the industrial-scale processing of pure carbon-nanotube fibers that could lead to revolutionary advances in materials science, power distribution and nanoelectronics.
An exquisite container
In campy old movies, Lucretia Borgia swans around emptying powder from her ring into wine glasses carelessly left unattended. The poison ring is usually a confection of gold filigree holding a cabochon or faceted gemstone that can be broken to empty the ring's contents. It is invariably enormous - so large it is rather odd nobody seems to notice it.
University of Cincinnati researchers create all-electric spintronics
A multidisciplinary team of UC researchers is the first to find an innovative and novel way to control an electron's spin orientation using purely electrical means.
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