National Nanotechnology Budget Review Committee

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National Nanotechnology Budget Review Committee

• Making the Right Decision

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• How Does Small Science Lead to Big Decisions?

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What is Nanotechnology?

• As a member of the National Nanotechnology
  Budget Review Committee you need some
  nanotechnology background

• Nanoscience is research and development at the
  molecular or atomic levels, between about 1 to
  100 nanometers.

Adapted from http//www.nanotechnologyinvesting.us
/ http//www.atlantykron.org/program.htm
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What Does Nanotechnology Do?

• It is the creation and use of systems, devices,
  and structures which have special functions or
  properties because of their small size.

• Nanotechnology has the ability to control or
  manipulate matter on a molecular or atomic scale.

Adapted from http//www.nanotechnologyinvesting.us
/ http//www.atlantykron.org/program.htm
http//www.mahoningjvs.k12.oh.us/bpa/banks/more2
0info204.htm http//www.theage.com.au/articles/2
004/12/08/1102182359368.html
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What Is Made with Nanotechnology?

• Nanotechnology, also known as nanotech, impacts
  all high-tech fields and disciplines, and
  research activities in this leading edge science.
  
• They can be any of the following

• Nanomaterials - physical substances with
  structural dimensions between 1 and 100 nm.
• Nanotools - devices that manipulate matter at the
  atomic or nanoscale.
• Nanodevices - systems with nanostructured parts
  that perform some task other than manipulating
  nano or atomic scale matter.

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This is one nanometer!
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http//www.nano.gov/html/facts/The_scale_of_things
.html
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Pitfalls and Potential

• Now that you know what nanotechnology is, how
  should we invest in nanotechnology to reap the
  biggest rewards?  Just like investing in
  anything, there are possible pitfalls when it
  comes to investing in nanotechnology.  But there
  is also great potential.

Adapted from http//www.nanotechnologyinvesting.us
/ http//ebbf.org/blog/?p237
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Decisions, Decision
How do you determine whether investing in a
specific areas nanotechnology will fall in the
category of "pitfall, "potential or
must-have? 
To make this determination, ask yourself a few
questions First, ask yourself whether this area
of nanotechnology has widespread applications for
this nanotechnology within this area. 
Adapted from http//www.nanotechnologyinvesting.us
/ http//www.adonisconstruction.co.uk/Content/Cont
entImages/1.jpg http//www.alumni.rpi.edu/nanote
ch2006.html http//idp2007.blogspot.com/2007/03/s
cience-odyssey-idp-synopses.html
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• Second, is there a real need for this
  nanotechnology in this area of society? Could
  these developments be better classified as
  wants or possibly just useful, but not
  necessary?

• Third, would any other areas benefit from this
  nanotechnology?

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• Fourth, what long term impact might this
  nanotechnology have on humans or the environment?
  Is it worth the risk?

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Is It Ethical?
Last, are these developments ethical? What are
ethics? The accepted principles of right and
wrong.
In science ethics, based upon accepted or
approved practices, guide our actions types of
experiments, behavior toward laboratory animals
or the environment, treatment of human subjects
or human body parts.

• As you decide to invest, calculate, think
  through the ethical use, the potential, the
  needs, and the risks to society and our planet.

http//ncsuethics.blogspot.com/
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Weird?
Many innovations in nanotechnology simply sound
too "weird"  Technology for developing a cell
phone so small that an insect or tiny implanted
device could use it.

• For example, or molecular- sized "bombs" that
  can kill individual cancer cells.  While such
  products don't exist now, they certainly might
  exist in the future.

Adapted from http//www.nanotechnologyinvesting.us
/ http//www.bristleconelearning.com/images_admin/
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Social, Environmental and Ethical Concerns

• Which of these nanotechnology developments might
  infringe on human rights? 
• Could any of them decrease privacy of
  individuals? 

• Could the use of nanotechnology have unwanted and
  negative environmental effects?
• What economic impact could the use of
  nanotechnology in certain areas have on
  producers, consumers, and other industries? Might
  they be negative or positive?

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What About Your Rights?

• If so, are these developments
• more important than
• Your privacy? 
• Your rights as a citizen? 
• Your rights as a human being?
• Are the answers somewhere in between?

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Social and Ethical Impact
It is easy to get caught up in the hype, the
excitement of how this new nanotechnology can
improve our lives. As the National
Nanotechnology Budget Review Committee it is
imperative that you understand the social,
ethical and environmental impact of the
information being presented to you. It is your
job to question these claims and weigh the
advantages against the possible disadvantages.

• What can be done to maximize the chances that
  humans will benefit from, rather than be harmed
  by these new developments?
• If we can develop these technologies, should we?
  Why?
• The attached list of questions outline the
  social, ethical and environmental questions which
  should be considered in this debate. Research
  Guide

http//webpub.allegheny.edu/dept/psych/Ethics.html
http//www.eolitservices.co.uk/pages/corporate-so
cial-responsibility.php
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Nanotechnology Research Group Reports

• You may wish to review the background
  information prepared for each nanotechnology
  research team.

Click on these research report links for the
nanotechnology topics that will be discussed at
this upcoming budget meeting.

• Agriculture
• Education
• Energy
• Environment
• Healthcare

• Information Technology
• Manufacturing
• Military
• Space
• Transportation

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Helpful Websites

• To assist you, the National Nanotechnology
  Budget Review Committee, here are some websites
  that address social, ethical and environmental
  questions related to nanotechnology.

• http//www.discovernano.northwestern.edu/affect/so
  cietalimpact/unknowns
• http//library.thinkquest.org/05aug/01179/controve
  rsy.html
• http//www.smalltimes.com/articles/stm_print_scree
  n.cfm?ARTICLE_ID281852
• http//www.nanocafes.org/nanoproducts_antibacteria
  l
• http//www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid1820.php

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More Websites
Click on these websites for general
nanotechnology websites which present recent
discoveries, developments and uses of
nanotechnology.

• Collect data on each of the nanotechnology
  research topics which will be presented.
• Write down questions that come to mind while you
  are researching which you can ask the presenters
  during the National Nanotechnology Budget Review
  Committees Budget Hearing.

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