student resources
Above: Can nano technology turn the world
into grey goo? Read the facts for themselves in the reports linked here.
Image 'nano-death' by B. Kaye
Nanotechnology - background and ethics
Commentary on the social implications of nanotechnology ranges from the Utopian to the apocalyptic. On the one hand, enthusiasts claim that the technology will transform every aspect of life for the better, making material goods virtually free and ending disease and ageing. On the other hand, opponents fear that a plague of self-replicating, intelligent nano-robots may overrun the biosphere, leading to the extinction of the human race. The debate is a confusing one, not least because different people use the word nanotechnology to refer to rather different things, and because discussions on potential consequences, both negative and positive, aren't always closely linked to discussions of scientific feasibility.
The UK Government has recently commissioned a survey of possible social, ethical and environmental issues raised by nanotechnology, which is being conducted jointly by the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering. See the survey website below for details:
For a comprehensive and balanced overview of what has been written so far about the social and economic implications of nanotechnology, see a recent report written by Stephen Wood and Richard Jones, of Sheffield University, and published by the Economic and Social Science Research Council.
The
Social and Economic Challenges of Nanotechnology
Adobe PDF file, 1.4MB
The classic statement of the radical view of nanotechnology is still the book by Drexler:
The dangers inherent in nanotechnology were highlighted in an influential article by Bill Joy:
Why the Future doesn't need us
A highly negative view, both of nanotechnology in its incremental sense and of the ultimate radical vision, was written by the Canadian environmental campaigning group, ETC. Entitled 'The Big Down', this report is no longer available online.
A more nuanced view is provided by a recent report from Greenpeace:
Future
Technologies, Today's Choices
Adobe PDF file, 327kB
See also 'Afraid of the Nano World' by Mike Gibbs, in Materials Today July/Aug 2003 edition (no longer available online).
Nature Education launched a nanotechnology page in 2010, this links to articles on the history, applications and ethical issues.
Nature Nanotechnology spotlight
Nanofolio students can access custom resources for their course at:
