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 lead a world-class group of researchers in supporting and enabling science-based decision-making. It also couldn’t come at a more opportune time, as governments, businesses and citizens struggle to deal with risk and uncertainty in an increasingly complex world.
The University of Michigan Risk Science Center has been around for a while, but has been in a holding pattern for the past couple of years while a new director was recruited. Supported by a very generous gift from Charles and Rita Gelman, the Center has already been placed on a very strong footing within the University of Michigan School of Public Health. My aim over the next few years will be to build on this foundation – increasing the scope, activities and impact of the Center, and developing it as an international Center of Excellence.
Over the next year or so I will be developing the Center’s focus more specifically in four areas:
- Research underpinning quantitative risk assessment;
- Emergent risks – specifically the possibility of materials and products causing harm in ways that are not apparent, assessable or manageable based on the current state of knowledge;
- Innovative new ways to handle risk (including assessing, managing and communicating risk); and
- Equipping people with the tools they need to make informed decisions in the face of risk and uncertainty.
Looking back, the past five years with the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies has been tremendously exciting. Although I’m hardly unbiased, I do believe that as a team we made a difference in supporting the responsible development of nanotechnologies in the US and beyond, and kept discussions surrounding the technology grounded in science. It will be sad to leave the team, Washington DC and national politics behind as I move across to Michigan. But at least I’m assured that academic politics are every bit as entertaining as anything you can find on Capitol Hill 🙂
Over the next few months, updates to 2020 Science may be intermittent as I find my feet, and work out how best to integrate the blog with my new position – so please bear with me. The intent though is to continue to reflect on science and technology in the 21st century – albeit perhaps with slightly more of a risk science bent!
In the meantime, don’t forget that you can follow the 2020 Science back-story on FaceBook and Twitter.
Oh, and before I go – someone mentioned something about football and Wolverines in relation to the University of Michigan. No idea what that was about – guess I’ll find out soon enough though…
Good luck Andrew. I know that you will be seriously missed in the nano world as you broaden your horizons. But we are really looking forward to seeing how the Risk Centre evolves. Sounds very exciting, useful and a great step forward for you.
Thanks Hilary,
I’m sure the nano world will still be plagued by me from time to time 🙂
…and welcome to the University of Michigan, Andrew , we are all very excited by your arrival (as well as the prospect of your continued impact on science through your blog!). And to the fans of Dr. Maynard—greetings from Ann Arbor! Howard Hu, Chair, Department of Environmental Health Sciences; Professor, the University of Michigan Schools of Public Health and Medicine
Thanks Howard. Of course, the real reason for the move was to tap into that huge pool of potential blog readers at the University of Michigan 🙂
The University of Michigan School of Public Health has joined your 6000-plus followers on Twitter! We welcome you to the campus of “the leaders and the best.”
Best,
MB Lewis,
UM SPH web communications
Think that makes 11 human followers and 5990 bots now 🙂
Good luck in Ann Arbor. I am envious that you are moving to my alma mater. I will miss your nanotechnology insights, but look forward to following along with your broader thoughts on science, technology, and society.
p.s. Don’t be surprised when 100,000+ people flock to the quaint little college town a few Saturday’s each year.
Thanks David – I have a sneaky suspicion that nanotech won’t let me go that easily!
Congrats Andrew on the well-deserved move. No doubt you’ll do great things in Ann Arbor. There are few people that can legitimately creating their own path, and then convince others to follow them–you have.
Not sure I buy into convincing others to follow, but thanks! 🙂
Welcome to the Maize and Blue!
Looking forward to your leadership and vision in the risk sciences.
Cheers!
Thanks Martin – looking forward to it immensely, as long as I can get my head around all this College Town stuff… 🙂
Good luck in your new position. So you’re returning from “dark side” to real science? 🙂
I guess I am! However, I suspect I’m bringing a sliver of the “dark side” with me 🙂
Best of luck in your new position, Andrew. I, along with many others, look forward to reading more of your fantastic insights and opinions when you’re finally settled in MI and back to the 2020. It seems as though your new position @ the RSC will provide a opportune channel for a plethora of new and innovative thought!
Best,
Kevin Berardinelli