NNI publishes bimonthly news alerts from NNCO and NNI-supported research.
E-Newsletter
National Nanotechnology Initiative News
From the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office
Nanotechnology Awareness
A new national survey shows an increase in national awareness of nanotechnology. According to Peter Hart Associates, 31% of American adults have heard a lot or some about nanotechnology, compared to 24% in polling conducted last year. At the same time the proportion of those who say they have not heard anything at all has declined over the last four years from 42% to 37%. The poll is underwritten by the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Project on Emerging Technologies. Complete details can be found at http://www.nanotechproject.org/news/archive/hart4/
Managing Risk
Obama Administration to review regulatory policy of nanomaterials
WASHINGTON Sept. 29–The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has outlined a new research strategy to better understand how manufactured nanomaterials may harm human health and the environment. The strategy outlines what research EPA will support over the next several years to generate information about the safe use of nanotechnology and products that contain nano-scale materials. The strategy also includes research into ways nanotechnology can be used to clean up toxic chemicals in the environment. This EPA review is consistent with the NNI’s EHS strategy of adaptive management
For more information see:
http://www.epa.gov/nanoscience
Assistant EPA Administrator Steve Owens revealed details of the study in prepared remarks delivered at the International Conference on Transatlantic Regulatory Co-operation: Securing the promise of Nanotechnology. Owens said, “Our task is to find the right balance, to ‘get it right’ and allow the promise of nanotechnology to be realized, while protecting against unwanted implications for future generations.”
The full text can be found here.
Nano Research News
The newest National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN) facility has been launched at Washington University in St. Louis, with a symposium on “Nanotechnology for Public Health, Environment and Energy.” The facility joins thirteen other sites all funded by NSF.
To learn more visit the web site at: http://www.nano.wustl.edu/symposium.aspx
NNI's nanoEHS Series continues
Mark your calendars for the next two workshops in the NNI's nanoEHS series, scheduled for October 6-7th and November 17-18th in Arlington, VA at the Holiday Inn Rosslyn. These open forums will highlight recent progress and identify next steps in the NNI Strategy for Nanotechnology-Related Environment, Health, and Safety Research by critically evaluating the state-of-the-science in the areas of Nanomaterials and the Environment & Instrumentation, Metrology and Analytical Methods, and Nanomaterials and Human Health & Instrumentation, Metrology and Analytical Methods.
Prior to the workshop a primer on Nanotechnology will be held Monday Oct. 5th, 7:00pm -8:30pm at the Boardroom in the Holiday Inn Rosslyn, VA.