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2.1 Introduction

 

ObservatoryNano aims to support European decision-makers with information and analysis on developments in nanoscience and nanotechnology (N&N). One of the activities is assessment of ethical and societal aspects of nanotechnology, in annual reports, quarterly interviews and by development and testing of an ethics toolkit. The annual reports are intended to bring together recent insights from relevant ethical and social science literature and results from stakeholder dialogue and public engagement activities. These insights and results are presented to European policy makers and other interested parties and intended to support governance of nanotechnology. Each report focuses on one of four key themes in nanoethics and society:

1)      Responsibility;

2)      Nanobioethics;

3)      Nanoelectronics, privacy and security and

4)      Communication.

The present report is the first annual report on ethical and societal issues published by ObservatoryNano. It focuses on “Individual and Collective Responsibility for Nanotechnology”. Chapter 2 reviews nanoethics and social studies of science literature on some key concepts in responsible nanotechnology development. Subsequently, chapter 3 summarises the current debate on the European Commission and other codes of conduct for nanotechnology. Chapter 4 includes an overview of ethical and societal issues identified in the draft reports on technical and economic trends in nanotechnology produced by other partners in ObservatoryNano. Chapter 5 analyses the highlighted issues in these reports which are relevant to responsible nanotechnology development. Finally, chapter 6 gives conclusions. The references include weblinks enabling further study of particular issues.


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Visits: 2804, Published on: April, 15th 2009, 09:35 AM, Last edit: 2009-10-05 11:03:54 Size: 2 KByte

Tags: responsible, precaution, sustainable, governance, codes of conduct

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