Some Australian Nanotechnology Information

Here is some great information on Australian nanotechnolgy from the Australian Government (Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research):

• Including a new report on Australian community attitudes on nanotechnology;
• Some great links to some background information on nanotechnology; and
• Details of how to contact the Gene and Nanotechnology Information Service (for all you nano-needs).

Community Awareness Survey

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On 4 August 2008, the Government released the "Australian Community Attitudes Held about Nanotechnology – Trends 2005-2008" report.

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This public awareness survey was commissioned to assess the Australian public's knowledge of and views about nanotechnology. This report compares changes of attitudes from 2005 and 2007 to 2008, and demonstrates that since then, the number of respondents who see the benefits of nanotechnology as outweighing the risks has increased from 39% to 53%, among other key findings.
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A summary of the key points in the public attitude study can be downloaded here.

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Background nanotechnology information

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Nanotechnology - working with the smallest things

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Measurement challenges in nanotechnology
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NICNAS Information Sheet on Nanomaterials
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Small Particles, Nanotechnology and Food
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CSIRO Nanoparticles Information Sheet
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Journey into the nano-world

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Nanotechnology (Freecall within Australia) Information Service

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The Gene and Nanotechnology Information Service provides a freecall information service for any enquiries about nanotechnology, or can be accessed by email. The Service, a partnership with the University of Melbourne, also provides outreach activities, such as expert speakers for schools and community groups and public displays. (Website under development).

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1800 631 276 or email gtis-australia@unimelb.edu.au

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Media Releases

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Also available is a list of the Australian Office of Nanotechnology's Nano related media releases

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**If you enjoyed this post please also check out:

What is nanotechnology?
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History of Nanotechnology
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Nanotechnology - risks and benefits

Nanotechnology in New South Wales

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Public Participation in Environmental Assessment and Decision Making
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COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOME !!
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So please, tell us what you think.

UK and US attitudes to nanotechnology

Here is a new study that shows "People In The U.S. And The U.K. Show Strong Similarities In Their Attitudes Toward Nanotechnologies". Interesting that people focus more on the benefits of nanotechnology than the risks. I would have thought that people living in the UK might be more aware of the risks of nanotechnology than people living in the US, because I was living in the UK during BSE and Foot and Mouth disease outbreaks and believe me, the media and the opposition party ensured that the public were well aware of the failings of government to regulate effectively to ensure food was indeed 'safe'. I also noticed that there was also a lot of public debate going on at the time about the safety of GM foods (both in the UK and Europe). Although I am not sure about the levels of debate on the GM food issue in the US.

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Anyway, here is a link to the full news article called "People In The U.S. And The U.K. Show Strong Similarities In Their Attitudes Toward Nanotechnologies" from Science Daily. The abstract is here on Nature Nanotechnology (advanced online edition) - although I will have to wait for the normal on-line edition to read the full thing (maybe a week).

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The results include the following key findings:

• Overall participants in both countries focused on the benefits rather than the risks of nanotechnologies, and also exhibited a high degree of optimism regarding the future contribution of new technologies to society. This pattern was very similar in the workshops in both the United States and Britain.

• Some small cross-country differences were present. U.K. participants were generally more aware of recent technological controversies and risk governance failures (examples include genetically modified organisms, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and foot and mouth disease), leading some to voice specific concerns about future nanotechnology risks.

The study also found that people were more likely to be positive about nanotechnology used for energy projects, than when it is used for medical purposes. This makes sense to me, because people will tend to be more concerned with risks that seem to relate more directly to themselves and their family and friends - like health concerns - rather than worry about more psychologically distant things like the risks of energy nanotechnology.

**If you enjoyed this post please also check out:

What is nanotechnology?
.
History of Nanotechnology
.
Nanotechnology - risks and benefits

Nanotechnology and Climate Change

COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOME !!
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So please, tell us what you think.

Nanotechnology and Society

I just found this site NanoVic
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Nanotechnology Victoria Pty Ltd which they describe themselves as "the key organization for delivering nanotechnology research outcomes to Victorian industry".
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It contain some good stuff on the risks of nanotechnology, consumer issues, governance and the role of the Australian government in nanotechnology.
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http://www.nanovic.com.au/index.php?a=about_nanovic
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Please check out my environmental blog Random Man on Planet Earth