by Andrew Maynard | Feb 1, 2008 | Communication, Nanotechnology, Policy
Labeling – is there anything more contentious in the safe nanotech debate? Some are fearful that too much knowledge will confuse and worry muddle-headed consumers. Others can only see the marketing opportunities of a “nano-inside” label. Then you have the...
by Andrew Maynard | Jan 26, 2008 | Oversight, Policy, Synthetic Biology
The popular computer game “SimLife” allows users to create and manipulate virtual people. But what are the chances of us one day being able to do the same with real organisms: building new life-forms out of basic chemicals, so “SimLife” becomes “SynLife”? This week’s...
by Andrew Maynard | Jan 4, 2008 | Nanotechnology, Policy
In 2004, the US National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) had a strategy – and it was OK. But what has happened since then? Has progress been made against planned actions? What have been the major challenges to progress? Have effective solutions been found? And...
by Andrew Maynard | Dec 8, 2007 | Civic Science, Nanotechnology, Policy
A trip through the newly refurbished St. Pancras station in London this week, and home to the widely-proclaimed “longest champagne bar in Europe”, prompted the following thought: At the champagne bar of modern science, are risk researchers the cappuccino drinkers...
by Andrew Maynard | Nov 18, 2007 | Nanotechnology, Policy
If you’ve ever wondered how to deal with the complexities of regulating a twenty first century technology like nanotechnology, wonder no more. Last week, President Bush’s top advisors on science and the environment published a set of “principles for nanotechnology...
by Andrew Maynard | Nov 11, 2007 | Nanotechnology, Policy
Some nanotechnology events should come with a health warning, perhaps along the lines of: “This meeting could seriously alter your perspective”. Because nanotechnology crosses such diverse areas of interest and expertise, there is a danger of being exposed to ideas...
