Societal Dimensions
Nanotechnology, like other new areas of technology, will impact society in ways that may be difficult to predict. The NNI supports ongoing research pertaining to ethical, legal, and societal implications (ELSI) of nanotechnology, in order to better understand its societal ramifications, to encourage the distribution and exchange of insights from leading experts in this area, and to develop avenues for societal input into nanotechnology development.
The NNI also promotes public outreach, engagement, and communication of research findings, including those related to understanding societal dimensions of nanotechnology. The NNI recognizes that the perspectives of public and stakeholder groups are vital in the nanotechnology R&D enterprise and conisders public engagement to be one of its key objectives. The NSET Subcommittee's Nanotechnology Public Engagement and Communications (NPEC) Working Group, in conjunction with the NNCO, coordinates many of the NNI activities in this area.
There will also be be continued support for efforts to educate the public through means such as those currently led by the NSF-funded Nanoscale Informal Science Education (NISE) Network, which is a combination of exhibits and resources aimed at educating the public about nanotechnology, and the NSF-funded National Center for Learning and Teaching in Nanoscale Science and Engineering (NCLT), which offers education resources to help teachers with nanotechnology-related concepts, simulations, and activities for the classroom. Another example of public education and outreach is the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences' Nanotechnology Webinar series. This program brings the public, industrial hygienists, and public health advocates into a web-based dialogue with nanotechnology subject matter experts. Other outreach efforts, such as media roundtables, will also continue, and the NNI will explore ways of building capacity for public engagement.