Societal implications of nanoscience: a brief commentary

Nanotechnology Reviews

Burgos-Mirabal Rafael¹ 

[1] University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA;

关键词: socio-technical assessment of emerging science and technology;   

DOI  :  10.1515/ntrev-2012-0002

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Reasons abound for assessing the potential advances of nanoscale manipulation with much optimism. This was even more so on the eve of the creation of the 2003 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act. At a certain level of logic there seemed to be no option then but to forge ahead. The voices helping to frame the initiative heralded the new wave of nanoscience as the key to future competitiveness and human happiness. In this commentary, my emphasis is on bringing to awareness other counterbalancing perspectives regarding the societal implications of R&D activity. I underscore the repercussions that the incorporation and naturalization of nanotechnology within society perforce starts to have in the midst of human life and organization. I summarize (i) how the top policy, although limited and internally contradictory with regards to engaging R&D pluralistically and socio-technically, provides outlets for reckoning with the inevitable repercussions of the social deployment of nanotechnology; (ii) what some of the societal challenges with which nanotechnology is confronting us are; and (iii) what current research is being carried out that provides models for subsequent nanoscience-related policy development in the right socio-technical direction.

【 授权许可】

Unknown