Societal Implications of Nanotechnology

Researchers in the Science, Technology and Society (STS) Initiative, based in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (CSBS) and the Center for Public Policy and Administration at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, have worked with the Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing to examine societal implications of nanotechnology with a focus on emerging industry and university networks, risk management, EHS and public policy.

NanoSRG brings together faculty from five research centers and seven departments and programs including faculty from political science, sociology, economics, psychology, anthropology, communication, legal studies, natural resources conservation and history. NanoSRG faculty are focusing on two activities:

1. Organization and leadership of three national research and policy workshops
2. An industry study of risk management behavior of nano scientists and firms in light of environmental health and safety challenges and opportunities for innovation.

For more information about the NanoSRG’s workshops and research, please visit the STS website http://www.umass.edu/sts/nano/