March 2010

New horizons – Goodby DC; hello University of Michigan

by Andrew Maynard March 25, 2010

As many of you will have picked up from recent blogs, I am moving on from my position as Chief Science Advisor to the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies.  From April 1, I will be taking up the post of Director of the University of Michigan Risk Science Center.  This is a tremendously exciting opportunity to [...]

Read the full article →

“I’m a Scientist…” – Seriously addictive science engagement!

by Andrew Maynard March 24, 2010

The website “I’m a Scientist – Get me out of here” should come with a government warning – something along the lines of “Visiting this site could seriously disrupt your professional, social and personal live while altering your perceptions on getting kids hooked on science – proceed with extreme caution.”  In fact I would probably [...]

Read the full article →

Sex, sexuality and science – a novice’s guide

by Andrew Maynard March 22, 2010

A year or so ago, there was a challenge circling round the blogging community to write on a subject you know nothing about.  It’s a little late, but I think this blog quite possibly qualifies as my contribution. Earlier this year I rather foolishly agreed to rise to a challenge set me on the 2020 [...]

Read the full article →

Please do not adjust your sets…

by Andrew Maynard March 21, 2010

I’ll be experimenting with updates to the 2020 Science look this next few days, in anticipation of the big move from the Wilson Center Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies to the University of Michigan Risk Science Center (more on this later in the week). So if things look a little odd, please bear with me! (And [...]

Read the full article →

The UK Nanotechnologies Strategy – disappointing

by Andrew Maynard March 18, 2010

Ten years ago, President Clinton laid the foundation stone of the current global Nanotechnology Initiative.  In a speech given at at Caltech, he announced the formation of the US National Nanotechnology Initiative, and set a chain of events in motion that has led to economies and businesses around the world investing in the technology of [...]

Read the full article →

UK nanotech strategy – unavailable due to technical difficulties

by Andrew Maynard March 18, 2010

It seems the UK government Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is having a “leaves on the track” moment this morning (a scathing cultural reference, for those of you Brits too young to remember!).  The newly-minted UK nanotechnology strategy – launched today – is unavailable… because of technical difficulties it seems. Seems to me that [...]

Read the full article →

British Science in the 21st century: The Royal Society on securing Britain’s future prosperity

by Andrew Maynard March 8, 2010

It’s a week for significant science reports.  Following hot on the heels of the UK Expert Group on Science and Trust’s report on Monday comes what could well be a seminal work on science in 21st century Britain from the Royal Society.  In “The scientific century: securing our future prosperity” a distinguished panel of experts [...]

Read the full article →

Why we need technology ratchets

by Andrew Maynard March 7, 2010

A lot of things keep me up at night – everything from the trivial (“did I remember to brush my teeth?”) to the to the profound (“does it matter?” ).  But recently, I’ve been plagued more than usual in the wee small hours by the challenge of developing sustainable and resilient technologies. Blame it on [...]

Read the full article →

Nanotechnology and cancer treatment: Do we need a reality check?

by Andrew Maynard March 2, 2010

Cancer treatment has been a poster-child for nanotechnology for almost as long as I’ve been involved with the field.  As far back as in 1999, a brochure on nanotechnology published by the US government described future “synthetic anti-body-like nanoscale drugs or devices that might seek out and destroy malignant cells wherever they might be in [...]

Read the full article →