Nanotechnology Interests

Who should have an interest in advanced nanotechnology? Whose interests will be impacted enough by molecular manufacturing that it should be part of their long-term planning?

We've identified ten groups of stakeholders who could benefit from learning more about molecular manufacturing and its potential effects -- both direct and indirect -- on them.

In no particular order, the ten stakeholder groups are those concerned with:

* Arms Control & Geopolitics
* Sustainable Development
* Business & Trade
* Medical Ethics & Research
* Surveillance & Privacy
* Social Justice
* Knowledge Management
* Ecological Remediation
* Policing & Criminology
* Intellectual Property

Large gains and severe losses can be projected for each group, depending on which of many scenarios for nanotechnology's development and management actually happens.

Too many people are unaware of nanotechnology's full implications. For example, some environmental groups are focused on nanoparticle toxicity as their prime concern, while CRN is pointing to much larger issues that lie just over the horizon.

Not all the anticipated impacts are negative, of course. But to realize the benefits, we must anticipate and prepare for the dangers. To complicate things, many issues intersect, and an apparent solution for one problem may make another problem worse.

General-purpose molecular manufacturing (which may be achieved by any of several routes) offers unprecedented opportunities for environmental reclamation, disease prevention, vastly improved infrastructures, highly advanced communication technologies, financial gain, and more.

However, it also presents severe risks, including widespread economic disruption, ubiquitous intrusive surveillance, and horrendously powerful nanotech weaponry.

The point of all this is that each of the stakeholder groups named above should begin a concentrated effort to understand the implications of advanced nanotechnology, and to determine what steps can be taken to protect and promote their interests. Please contact CRN for specific advice on how to get started.

Mike Treder

Comments

[Mike Deering]

Now you should make a list of ten people in powerful positions that actually have a realistic awareness of MM and are taking it into account in their planning. That is if you can find ten.

[Tom Mazanec]

You forget that you can't stop. There is a tidal wave (peak oil with population growth) racing up behind you!