Nanotechnology Project

Publications

Publications

  • April 28, 2009 PEN 18 - Oversight of Next Generation Nanotechnology Existing health and safety agencies are unable to cope with the risk assessment, standard setting and oversight challenges of advancing nanotechnology. J. Clarence Davies
  • April 6, 2009 Toward a Comprehensive Strategy for Nanotechnology Risk Communication Cultural Cognition and Nanotechnology Risk Perceptions The last in a trio of studies: Cultural Cognition and Nanotechnology Risk Perceptions: An Experimental Investigation of Message Framing, asks what science will reveal about the risks and benefits of nanotechnology and what conclusions members of the public will form? It takes an in depth look at the power of information framing to accentuate or mitigate cultural polarization. Dan M. Kahan, David Rejeski
  • January 27, 2009 PEN 16 - Nanotechnology: The Social and Ethical Issues “It is crucial to address social and ethical issues now as we consider both the substantial potential risks of nanotechnology and its possible significant contributions to our well-being and environmental sustainability,” says report author Ronald Sandler. PEN 16 emphasizes ways in which these issues intersect with governmental functions and responsibilities, including science and technology policy, as well as research funding, regulation and work on public engagement. Ronald Sandler
  • January 14, 2009 PEN 17 - A Hard Pill to Swallow Barriers to Effective FDA Regulation of Nanotechnology-Based Dietary Supplements Historically, the regulation of dietary supplements has been a significant challenge for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the fact that some of these products are now being manufactured using nanotechnology creates an additional layer of complexity. Is FDA equipped to meet the emerging regulatory challenge of dietary supplements that use engineered nanomaterials? William B. Schultz and Lisa Barclay
  • December 9, 2008 Federal Government Nanotechnology Environment, Health and Safety Research Near-term Annual Funding Options Federal risk-research funding options for moving forward under the next administration
  • October 3, 2008 Nanotechnology: Energizing the Future Nanofrontiers Newsletter Fall 2008 Industry and government are searching for new technologies that will foster more efficient and less-polluting energy sources. From nano-enabled solar panels to long-lasting automobile batteries, nanotechnology will be a cornerstone of 21st Century energy sources. Jason Ortego
  • September 18, 2008 Poll: Risks and Benefits of Nanotechnology & Synthetic Biology A Report of Findings, Based On A National Survey Among Adults A groundbreaking poll finds that almost half of U.S. adults have heard nothing about nanotechnology, and nearly nine in 10 Americans say they have heard just a little or nothing at all about the emerging field of synthetic biology, according to a new report released by the Project and Peter D. Hart Research. Both technologies involve manipulating matter at an incredibly small scale to achieve something new. Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc.
  • September 9, 2008 PEN 15 - Silver Nanotechnologies and the Environment Old Problems or New Challenges? Widespread use of nanoscale silver will challenge regulatory agencies to balance important potential benefits against the possibility of significant environmental risk, highlighting the need to identify research priorities concerning this emerging technology, according to a new report released today by the Project. Samuel N. Luoma
  • August 21, 2008 PEN 14 - The Consumer Products Safety Commission and Nanotechnology The inability of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to carry out its mandate with respect to simple, low-tech products such as children’s jewelry and toy trains bodes poorly for its ability to oversee the safety of complex, high-tech products made using nanotechnology, according to E. Marla Felcher. E. Marla Felcher
  • July 23, 2008 PEN 13 - Nanotechnology Oversight An Agenda for the Next Administration Few domestic policy areas that the new administration must address will have greater long-range consequences than nanotechnology — a new technology that has been compared with the industrial revolution in terms of its impact on society. If the right decisions are made, nanotechnology will bring vast improvements to almost every area of daily living. If the wrong decisions are made, the American economy, human health and the environment will suffer. J. Clarence (Terry) Davies