Nanotechnology: road to great things or grey goo?
In a new report, a team at the University of Sheffield funded by the Economic and Social Research Council investigates the scientific reality behind nanotechnology and looks at the hopes and fears that it raises.
The “Social and Economic Challenges of Nanotechnology” is the result of collaboration between a social scientist: Professor Stephen Wood of the ESRC Centre of Innovation and Organisation and Professor Richard Jones of the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
The word nanotechnology is used to refer to things from mundane applications like stain resistant jeans to possible self replicating nano robots. The report carefully distinguished between what these technologies are able to deliver now, what may be possible in future, and what is likely to remain beyond the bounds of feasibility.
Social science has a role to play, because it can help to construct the lens through which we see nanotechnology, and understand its implications so these can be anticipated and incorporated into development.
Nanotechnology is also an opportunity to investigate broader themes, such as an evaluation of the drivers behinds the technology process, how society deals with risks under uncertainly, and issues of inequities and economic divides.
The full report is available as a 63 page pdf download from Economic and Social Research Council TS
