Welcome to the 2020 Science Archive
2020 Science started life in 2007 as a nanotechnology blog written by Andrew Maynard on SafeNano. In the following years it developed into a personal blog addressing emerging technologies, responsible innovation, risk, science communication, and the intersection between science and society more generally.
Andrew made he decision to wind the blog down in 2019 as his focus and writing developed in new directions. This archive contains most of the original posts (there have been occasional clean-ups of content). For more recent articles etc. please visit andrewmaynard.net. And thanks for visiting!
BROWSE THE ARCHIVE
US National Nanotechnology Initiative draft EHS Strategy – good in part
Update 1/6/11: The comment period has been extended to January 21 There are only two days left to comment on the current draft US National Nanotechnology Initiative Environmental, Health and Safety strategy (the comment period closes January 6) - so time to read the...
A bluffer’s guide to Risk Science in the 21st century
A few weeks ago, I gave a talk at the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati under the slightly provocative title "Small Gods and the Art of Technology Innovation". The talk is now available on-line (slides and audio at least) - and viewable below - through the...
The geopolitics of nanotechnology – an ideaological counterweight from ETC?
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...
The art of risk science
I'm feeling a little lazy today, so this is a cross-posting from the University of Michigan Risk Science Center newsletter. It draws in part on the talk I gave at the Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center this past weekend as part of their "where do we go from here?"...
The NNI at 10 – did I really say that?
I must have been just a little worked up when I spoke with Gwyneth Shaw at the New Haven Independent a couple of weeks ago on nanotechnology. I'm usually fairly circumspect with my comments to reporters (OK, so I know some readers have just spattered their coffee...
US Nanotechnology Environmental, Health & Safety Research Strategy open for comment
The US National Nanotechnology Initiative's latest iteration of its Environmental, Health and Safety Research Strategy has just been posted on-line for public comment. Between now and January 6, anyone who is interested is encouraged to read the draft and comment on...
Small gods and the art of technology innovation
There's something rather liberating about being asked to give a no-holds talk on your perspective on life, the universe and everything. So when the Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center asked if I would speak as part of their "Where do we go from here?" series, I...
Emerging technologies at the World Economic Forum – rethinking integrative approaches to global risks
In an interconnected world, global issues demand integrative solutions. It's a statement that many people would agree with - in systems where associations between cause and effect are complex, you ignore synergistic inter-relationships between factors at your peril....
Reviewing the National Nanotechnology Initiative Strategic Plan – Twitter on steroids?
Here's a bit of trivia: with the 4000 character limit on comments on the National Nanotechnology Initiative Draft Strategic Plan, you might as well ditch the official portal, and tweet your comments to the Office of Science and Technology Policy - 28 tweets would do...
Nanotechnology, climate and energy: over-heated promises and hot air?
Friends of the Earth have just released a new report challenging claims that nanotechnology will lead to greener, more energy-efficient technologies, lower-impact technologies. I've only had the chance to skim through the report so far, and so don't have detailed...