Technology innovation and human health risk – rethinking the intersection

by Andrew Maynard | Mar 10, 2011 | Emerging Technology, Nanotechnology, Oversight, Policy, Technology Innovation

As anyone who has followed my work over the past few years will know, I have a deep interest in the potential benefits and risks associated with emerging technologies, and in particular whether we can swing the balance towards benefits by thinking more innovatively...

Davos 2011: Global Risks permeate conversations this year, but where’s the science?

by Andrew Maynard | Jan 29, 2011 | Emerging Technology, Oversight, Policy, Technology Innovation

Cross-posted from the Risk Science Blog. Take a metaphorical slice through this year’s annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, and Global Risk would be writ large through every part of it.  Hot on the heels of the sixth Global Risk report, this...

Obama’s 21st century regulatory system will demand more innovative thinking on risk

by Andrew Maynard | Jan 18, 2011 | Emerging Technology, Oversight, Regulation

Cross posted from the Risk Science Center Blog: There’s a lot to like in President Obama’s perspective on 21st century regulation. Writing in today’s Wall Street Journal, Obama outlines his thinking behind his new executive order to review and revise...

The geopolitics of nanotechnology – an ideaological counterweight from ETC?

by Andrew Maynard | Dec 22, 2010 | Emerging Technology, Nanotechnology, Oversight, Policy

Getting an unbiased perspective on nanotechnology is probably as close to impossible as you can get.  Governments invest in nanotech because they believe in its ability to inspire new research and stimulate economies and social change.  Corporations invest in nanotech...

International Handbook on Regulating Nanotechnologies – sneak peak of contents

by Andrew Maynard | Nov 4, 2010 | Emerging Technology, Nanotechnology, Oversight, Policy, Recommended

Back in the mists of time, I was approached with a crazy proposition – would I help co-edit a book on nanotechnologies regulation!  In a moment of weakness I said yes, and a little more than two and a half years later, the book is finally about to hit the...

Deja vu and synthetic biology – will we learn the lessons of nanotech and genetic modification?

by Hilary Sutcliffe | May 25, 2010 | Ethics, Guest Post, Oversight, Synthetic Biology

A guest blog by Hilary Sutcliffe, Director of MATTER, a UK think tank which explores how new technologies can work for us all. The other day, I wrote a piece on the implications of synthetic biology where I  suggested that we “need to place discussions on a...