nanotechnology

This podcast features an interview with George B. Adams III, Associate Director for Programs, Network for Computational Nanotechnology at Purdue University. Our interview was recorded at the CNI 2008 Spring Task Force Meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

nanoHUB provides users with “fingertip access” to over 70 simulation tools for research and education. Users not only launch jobs that are executed on the state-of-the-art computational facilities of Open Science Grid and TeraGrid, but also interactively visualize and analyze the results--all via an ordinary Web browser. nanoHUB middleware hides the complexity of Grid computing, handling authentication, authorization, file transfer, and visualization, and letting the researcher focus on research. This approach also helps educators bring these tools to the classroom, letting them bypass the difficulties of Grid computing and focus instead on learning science and engineering.

October 1, Nano-tech civic forum on the societal implications of nanotechnology

Summary - nanotechnology is broad based, it includes a number of different industries, and has an impact on a scale between existing physical building processes and molecular biology. Concern was raised about the accuracy of the protrayal and risks of nano-technology in the media. There was a lack of willingness to directly address possible negative consequences, and a submission that the government will protect us from negative impacts, and at the same time, existing infrastructure is inadequate to deal with new technology.

The potential benefits of nano-technology are huge, but there is no infrastructure in place to asses the moral impact or the long term environmental and societal impact of these technologies.

STS = science technology and society

The idea behind the forum is to discuss the implications of a new technology while it is being developed, instead of developing and deploying tech and figuring out how to deal with the consequences. Responsible development of technology!

Attendees: