Abstract
Challenges and opportunities for appropriate oversight of nanotechnology applied to or derived from biological systems (nano-bio interface) were discussed in a public workshop and dialog hosted by the Center for Science, Technology, and Public Policy of the University of Minnesota on September 15, 2005. This paper discusses the themes that emerged from the workshop, including the importance of analyzing potential gaps in current regulatory systems; deciding upon the general approach taken toward regulation; employing non-regulatory mechanisms for governance; making risk and other studies transparent and available to the public; bolstering mechanisms for public participation in risk analysis; creating more opportunities for meaningful discussion of the social and ethical dimensions of the nano-bio interface; increasing funds for implications and problem-solving research in this area; and having independent and reliable sources for communication. The workshop was successful in identifying ways of moving forward responsibly so that ultimately nanotechnology and its products can succeed in developers’, researchers’, regulators’, and the public’s eyes.
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Acknowledgements
The author gratefully acknowledges all the workshop participants for their contributions and to the workshop report that forms the basis of this paper. In particular, Norris Alderson, FDA; Lynn Bergeson, Bergeson & Campbell; Jacob Finkelstein, University of Rochester; Karen Florini, Environmental Defense; Sheldon Friedlander, UCLA; Ken Hallberg, MN Nanotechnology Initiative; Robbin Johnson, Cargill, Inc.; Jane Macoubrie, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars; Evan Michelson, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars; Jordan Paradise, University of Minnesota; Christine Peterson, Foresight Institute; Elizabeth Wilson, University of Minnesota; and Alan Ziegler, Converging Technologies Bar Association carefully reviewed the workshop report and provided comments. The author would also like to acknowledge the support of David Y. Pui and Kenneth H. Keller, University of Minnesota, for their support and the help of Marsha Riebe, Kana Talukder and Peter VerHage of the Center for Science, Technology, and Public Policy at the University of Minnesota with organizing the workshop.
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Kuzma, J. Moving forward responsibly: Oversight for the nanotechnology-biology interface. J Nanopart Res 9, 165–182 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-006-9151-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-006-9151-0