Overseeing nanotechnology development
November 18, 2007If 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 environment, health and safety oversight”. Based on a multi-agency consensus-based process, ...
Nanotechnologies of humility
November 11, 2007Some 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 that are radically different from your own. And where exposure ...
Invest in nano applications, and the risks will take care of themselves?
November 4, 2007Invest in nano applications, and the risks will take care of themselves?
Nanotechnology in context – Size matter
November 1, 2007In July 2007, a specially convened task force of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concluded that size does in fact matter (FDA 2007). The focus of the task force was not on the importance of “largeness”, but rather on the technology of the unimaginably small—nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is the ...
"Selling out" on nanotechnology outreach
October 27, 2007Somewhere, I must have taken a wrong turn in my life. Three years ago, I was a serious scientist, doing research no-one understood, and writing papers no-one read. Now I find myself making videos about cream cakes. It all started to go amiss when I got mixed up with a crowd ...
People breathing in nanoparticles? Surely you’re joking Mr. Feynman!
October 8, 2007Admit it-deep down, your don’t really believe people will be exposed to engineered nanomaterials. After all, most nanomaterials will be made in enclosed reactors, handled as precious commodities where not a particle can be spared, and irreversibly incorporated into a bewildering array of products. And those that do start their ...