Responsible Nanotechnology

Everything Can Be Taken

Not Necessarily Relevant Quote of the Week:

Everything can be taken from a man or a woman but one thing: the last of human freedoms to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.

— Viktor Frankl

Tag: quotes

C-R-Newsletter #57

The latest edition of the C-R-Newsletter has been posted on our main website.

CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE:

CRN Leadership Expands
A Successful Nano-Bio Conference
Scenario Publication Plans
Nanoethics Questions
CRN Goes to Hoboken
Journey vs. Destination
Live-Blogging Productive Nanosystems
Feature Essay: Levels of Nanotechnology Development

Read the whole newsletter here — and sign up for a free subscription here.

Tags: nanotechnology nanotech nano science technology future

Journey vs. Destination

CRN's latest monthly column for the popular Nanotechnology Now web portal has been posted. The current article is titled "Nanotechnology: Journey vs. Destination" -- here is the abstract:

Nanotechnology has acquired several distinct meanings over the last few decades. Its development has been marked by this confusion, which has led to concerns from one field of nanotechnology, molecular manufacturing, being applied to other fields. As all fields of nanotechnology continue to develop, molecular manufacturing will reach a point where it is able to accelerate the other fields.

We hope you'll read all our columns, offer feedback, and tell others about them too.

Tags: nanotechnology nanotech nano science technology ethics weblog blog

Madison's Nano Café

Madison's Nano Café continues to be one of the most active of such efforts. Here is some information about their next event:

On October 23rd, 6:30 PM, at Warner Park Center -- 1625 Northport Drive, Madison, Wisconsin -- the next Nano Café will explore Nanotechnology and the Environment: potential benefits, risks, and regulatory issues related to nanotechnology.

Robert Hamers, Chemist and Associate Director of the Nanoscale Science & Engineering Center (NSEC), Joel Pedersen, Environmental engineer in the NSEC, Local and state Policymakers, and the Citizen's Coalition on Nanotechnology (CCoN) will be here to respond to you. We sincerely hope you'll join us and spread the word!

Tags: nanotechnology nanotech nano science technology ethics weblog blog

Jamais Cascio Speaks

Check out this video interview with Jamais Cascio -- CRN's new Director of Impacts Analysis -- in which he says:

Whether we talk about AI or molecular manufacturing... we may talk about them as gadgets, nuts and bolts, we may be fascinated by the underlying circuitry, but the choices that we make about what we pursue and what we abandon, the decisions that we make about what goes into the code, and ultimately the policies that we develop around how to integrate this into society have political origins. The more that we can make explicit the political aspects of these technologies, the better we will be able to handle the repercussions when they do eventually emerge.

Tags: nanotechnology nanotech nano science technology ethics weblog blog

Relevant Job Opening

Director, Nanotechnology Project
Center for the Study of Responsive Law (CSRL)
Washington, DC

Description:

The Nanotechnology Project* seeks a Project Director to develop an independent group working on the oversight of nanotechnology. The mission of the project is to educate the public and policymakers about nanotechnology's risks to human health and the environment.

Specific Responsibilities Include:

Activities

• Developing and directing public education programs
  
• Monitoring Congressional action on nanotechnology initiatives
  
• Developing and maintaining relationships with allied organizations and individuals
  
• Representing the group and its members at meetings, public hearings and other events

Writing

• Authoring and editing articles, reports, regulatory comments and news releases
  
• Developing and producing a short newsletter and information alerts
  
• Writing and editing grant proposals

Group Operations

• Overseeing general operations of the organization
  
• Overseeing the communications program
  
• Hiring, training and supervising other staff/interns
  
• Developing fundraising programs

Desired Skills/Qualifications:

• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communications skills
  
• Ability to build effective relationships with allied organizations and individuals
  
• Demonstrated success in project management
  
• Be a self-starter and highly motivated
  
• Strong organizational skills and experience managing multiple tasks and projects
  
• Previous experience with nanotechnology or technology issues highly preferable
  
• Graduate degree in law, engineering or other relevant field desirable

To apply, email resume and cover letter to Adam Tapley: [email protected]

* A project of the Center for the Study of Responsive Law (CSRL).

Center for the Study of Responsive Law (CSRL) is a nonprofit Ralph Nader organization that supports and conducts a wide variety of research and educational projects to encourage the political, economic and social institutions of this country to be more aware of the needs of the citizen-consumer. The Center serves to empower citizens, guard the environment, protect consumers and monitor worker health and safety issues.

Tags: nanotechnology nanotech nano science technology ethics weblog blog

Low Nanotech Awareness

SOURCE: Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

A story at Science Daily is headlined "Public Awareness Of Nanotechnology Stuck At Low Level, According To Polls."

National survey findings recently released indicate that Americans' awareness of nanotechnology remains low. Popular awareness is nearly as small as the tiny nanoscale materials and nano-enabled devices and products now flowing onto the market from this rapidly progressing technology that experts believe will usher in a new industrial revolution.

Even with an estimated $50 billion worth of nanotechnology manufactured goods on the global market last year, only 6 percent of Americans -- or fewer than one in 16 -- say they have "heard a lot" about nanotechnology, as compared with 10 percent in 2006. In 2007, 21 percent say they have "heard some" about nanotechnology, unchanged from the previous year. Similarly, as in 2006, about 70 percent of adults say they have heard "just a little" or "nothing at all."

Does this bother me? Actually, no.

In fact, I'm strongly inclined to think that's about how it should be.

As currently defined and generally in use by everyone except a tiny minority (CRN, Foresight, Lifeboat Foundation, etc.), nanotechnology is not of pressing importance. So, when the public is asked about it, and only a few people are aware and the rest apparently shrug their shoulders, I'm neither surprised nor alarmed.

The kind of nanotech being funded by the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative and researched at places like the Woodrow Wilson Center doesn't merit much more attention than it's already getting.

Environmental activists worry about nanoparticle toxicity and product life cycle assessments, and they should. Reasonable discussions of incremental impacts are taking place at NSF-supported Centers for Nanotechnology in Society -- in Arizona, California, and South Carolina -- and that's fine.

What is not being discussed nearly enough are the transformative and disruptive implications of molecular manufacturing. But that specialty field has been so overshadowed by the big dollars and big hype surrounding today's nanoscale technologies that it might best be treated as something else completely apart from nanotechnology.

The excerpt above from Science Daily makes the common mistake of lumping two things together -- the huge spending on "nanoscale materials and nano-enabled devices and products" with the concept of a "new industrial revolution." But let's be clear: the former is unlikely to lead to the latter.

This conflation of themes and confusion of terms is so acute and so distracting that we at CRN may have to rethink our labeling.

Mike Treder

Tags: nanotechnology nanotech nano science technology ethics weblog blog

CRN Leadership Expands

The Center for Responsible Nanotechnology is adding two new members to its leadership team. Jamais Cascio will become CRN’s Director of Impacts Analysis, and Jessica Margolin will take on the role of Director of Research Communities, effective October 1, 2007. CRN co-founder Chris Phoenix will begin his scheduled sabbatical in October. Co-founder Mike Treder will continue to serve as Executive Director of CRN.

Since its inception in December 2002, CRN has significantly contributed to better public understanding about molecular manufacturing, a specialty area of nanotechnology associated with extremely high risks and returns. CRN promotes awareness and education, and the development of effective recommendations to maximize benefits and reduce dangers.

“I’ve been looking forward to this opportunity for some time,” said Phoenix. “With growing recognition about the importance of molecular manufacturing, with Jamais and Jessica, two extremely talented people, coming on board, and with Mike’s ongoing leadership, I feel comfortable taking a sabbatical.”

Jamais Cascio is a writer, blogger and futurist covering the intersection of emerging technologies and cultural transformation. He speaks about future scenarios around the world and his essays about technology and society have appeared in a variety of print and online publications. He is a fellow at the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, as well as a research affiliate at the Institute for the Future. He also works on a variety of independent projects including serving as a lead author of the recent Metaverse Roadmap Overview report.

“I’ve admired CRN’s work for a long time,” said Cascio, “and in recent months I’ve become more actively involved. Now I’m extremely pleased to be joining the team in a leadership capacity.”

In 2003, Cascio co-founded WorldChanging.com, a Web site dedicated to finding and calling attention to models, tools, and ideas for building a ‘bright green’ future. Cascio authored nearly 2,000 articles during his time at WorldChanging, looking at topics such as energy and the environment, global development, open-source technologies, and catalysts for social change. In 2006, he started OpenTheFuture.com as his online home.

“My understanding of technology development and societal change lead me to conclude that molecular manufacturing will be hugely disruptive,” added Cascio. “I’ve said before that if we manage to get through this century with our civilization intact, CRN's work will bear much of the credit. I hope I can make a worthwhile contribution to that effort.”

Jessica Margolin is an entrepreneur who consults in the area of purposeful conversations and messaging systems. Her professional background includes industry roles in financial analysis, business development, organizational design, and marketing strategy and communications; her education includes an MS in Materials Science in the area of nanotechnology, and an MBA.

“It's important to ensure all voices are heard during periods of profoundly rapid scientific innovation,” said Margolin. “Many nanoscale technologies are poised to be disruptive, and CRN focuses on what is potentially the most disruptive of all. I look forward to accelerating the development of the community surrounding CRN's work.”

Currently a research affiliate at Institute for the Future, Margolin synthesizes her professional experience in the financial and internet industries as well as her philanthropic work to address problems concerning the design of organizations, institutions, and communities.

“I’m ecstatic about the opportunity to work closely with both Jamais and Jessica as we move forward in the important cause of ensuring safe development and responsible use of advanced nanotechnology,” said Treder.

Tags: nanotechnology nanotech nano science technology ethics weblog blog

Climate Change Denialism

STATES OF DENIAL:

1. Global warming is not really happening.
   
2. Global warming is happening, but it's not a result of human actions.
   
3. Global warming is happening, and it is a result of human actions, but it won't be catastrophic.
   
4. Global warming is happening, and it is a result of human actions, and it will be catastrophic, but that's okay.

Perceptions have changed a great deal in recent years, especially since the release of Al Gore's movie and book, An Inconvenient Truth. Whereas a decade ago perhaps 90% of Americans could have fit into one of the groups above, I'd estimate the total now has dropped well below 50%, with most of those in groups 2 or 3. And as the effects of climate change become more obvious and more damaging in the years ahead, the number of denialists will keep sinking and probably settle at around 20-25%.

At each level of denial, the argument against responding to climate change gradually shifts from evidence-based to attitude-based. With the evidence continually piling up, rebuttals are moving from "the data doesn't say that" to "it doesn't really matter."

Group 4 is quite interesting. Although it represents only a small fraction of denialists, it contains a strange mix of radical environmentalists (those few who'd just as soon see the Earth wiped clean of defiling humans), anarcho-capitalists (who believe that if market forces led to global warming, then market forces will fix it, if indeed it needs fixing), and techno-rapturists (who figure we can just sit back and wait for some combination of Super AI, Super MM, or the Singularity to fix everything).

Meanwhile, glaciers recede, temperatures rise, storms strengthen, droughts worsen, crops fail, disease spreads, and people suffer.

Yes, CRN does place significant hope in the potential for molecular manufacturing to make a big difference. But it's clearly impossible to say how much of a difference or how soon.

So, it is irresponsible, in our view, to support a cavalier attitude toward climate change. The problem is real, it's happening now, and we've got to take action with whatever means are at our disposal -- and not wait around for some future Super Techno Fix.

UPDATE: I just saw this article at BBC News, which includes a graph that looks to be pretty much in line with the numbers I suggested.

If 59% of Americans say major steps are needed very soon, that leaves 41% who could be classified in one of the four groups I described above.

Mike Treder

Tags: nanotechnology nanotech nano science technology ethics weblog blog

Under the Cloud

Not Necessarily Relevant Quote of the Week:

Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. This is not a way of life at all in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron.

— President Dwight D. Eisenhower

Tag: quotes