Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell has enacted a new law requiring the Commissioner of Higher Education in her state to review the inclusion of nanotechnology, molecular manufacturing and advanced and developing technologies at institutions of higher education.
Governor Rell said:
Nanotechnology represents the future -- the future of everything from manufacturing systems to environmental protection to aerospace...This field will transform the transform the size, cost, and efficiency of the things we make -- everything from the proverbial widget to a state-of-the-art spacecraft.
CRN is pleased to note that this measure specifically designates molecular manufacturing as something that should be taught at "institutions of higher education."
As far as we know, Connecticut is the first state to pass a law requiring colleges and universities to include nanotechnology and molecular manufacturing in their curriculum. We congratulate Governor Rell and the Connecticut state legislature on their forward thinking.
Because of the revolutionary and potentially disruptive power of this technology, it is urgent that we learn more about its likely impacts. This calls for expert training in technical fields like engineering, but also in other fields like economics, environmental science, political science, and sociology.
CRN urges other states -- and indeed, other countries -- to follow Connecticut's lead.
Tags: nanotechnology nanotech nano science technology ethics weblog blog
Wow. This is the first good nano-news I've heard since realizing MM enabled scary weapons. MM-ethicists will surely follow!! I expect Berkeley and Silicon Valley to copy Boston soon enough. South-East Asia and Europe to follow. Who'd have thought: Molecular Manufacturing in universities... :)
Posted by: cdnprodigy | August 12, 2005 at 01:16 PM