[...]... 30 What Can Nanotechnology Learn from Biotechnology? ISBN: 978-012-373990-2 Copyright © 2008 Elsevier Inc All rights of reproduction in any form reserved 4 What Can Nanotechnology Learn from Biotechnology? In a nutshell: our1 audiences and our core objective The emerging field of nanotechnology attracts antagonists (proponents and opponents), analysts from various disciplines,... nanomaterials and risks Nanotechnology from the insurer’s perspective Emerging concepts in nanoparticle toxicology Risks and ethical challenges of nanotechnology in healthcare What are the social, legal, and ethical2 impacts of a controversial set of technologies? What issues stem from these impacts? Are there unambiguous answers to these issues? 8 What Can Nanotechnology Learn from Biotechnology? Privacy... there lessons that we can learn by examining the failures and successes of agricultural biotechnologies? Can we shape the new nanotechnologies as well as respond to the concerns of critics and skeptics? What lessons can we learn from the experiences with the agricultural biotechnologies that will help us avoid the same result with the design of nanotechnological products and processes? What actions on the... of biotechnology, can turn to Alan McHughen’s Primer on Genetic Engineering in Appendix I) The authors whose work is collected here met at the First International Institute for Food and Agricultural Studies (IFAS) Conference on Nanotechnology that convened at Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan on October 26 and 27, 2005 The Conference was titled What Can Nano Learn from Bio? Lessons from. .. by humans 6 What Can Nanotechnology Learn from Biotechnology? Nano-benefits Why did the US Government invest more than $1 billion in nanotechnologies in 2005? Possible nano-benefits are no secret Berube’s Nano-Hype (2006) amply records the extraordinary, “hyperbolic” claims made for applications of nanotechnology and Mehta (2004) provides a selection of applications expected to emerge from advances... and citizens This introduction addresses these diverse audiences with a communication strategy I learned from Ted Koppel, formerly of ABC News: Do not assume that the audience is ignorant Also do not assume that the audience is sufficiently informed What can these antagonists, analysts, and stakeholders learn from the international controversy over the use of biotechnology involving recombinant DNA techniques... by farmers but faced much resistance from the final buyer—the consumer So can lessons from biotechnology be effectively modified and applied to the much broader field of technologies collectively called nanotechnology ? The objective of this volume is to collect analyses with different perspectives but with the common goal of providing lessons from biotechnology for nanotechnology In it, the contributors... studies “inconclusive,” and states that there are too few studies that address the effects of nanomaterials in vitro and in vivo (von Bubnoff, 2006) 10 What Can Nanotechnology Learn from Biotechnology? Philosophical issues: the ontological angst of nanotechnology Anthropologists noted long ago (e.g Malinowski, 1922) the difference a society ascribes to a technology considered just adequate to deal... nanotechnology: Is the technology only about chemosynthesis, catalysis on the nanoscale? Or is the technology about nanobots working together? If the former interpretation is accurate, then we need to examine the consequences of nanoparticles in terms of its interaction with the environment and its impact on life and world values If the latter Figure 1.2 Nano-ring 12 What Can Nanotechnology Learn from. .. opposite position (“demonization” of the technical advocates; “idiotization” of the anti-technical advocates) can occur Inflammatory statements are made with no expectation that antagonists shall seek common ground Mode of resolution of ultra-controversy is not yet known 16 What Can Nanotechnology Learn from Biotechnology? Summary This section addressed three kinds of complexity regarding the advent of nanotechnologies . 321 Appendix IV Participants at First International IFAS Conference on Nanotechnology What Can Nano Learn from Bio?” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323 Appendix V Participants. . . 276 Appendix I A Primer on Genetic Engineering . . . . . . . . 277 Appendix II Report from the Standards for Nanotechnology Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285 Appendix III. Simon, President of Michigan State University. Event planning and report preparation are truly collaborative efforts and this workshop was no exception. Special thanks are due the following people