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Conference 'Nanotechnology in Science, Economy, and Society' (January 13th - 15th 2005)
The conference aimed to bring together representatives of nanotechnology from different scientific and technological research areas with scholars from the humanities and social sciences so as to enable debate on phenomena, potential, and limits of nanotechnology from different viewpoints.With this in mind the conference has been divided into four sessions:
Session 1
Nanotechnology - A Phenomenon with Many Facets
This session involved a description of the current status of nanotechnology, focusing on its manifestations, fields of application, and functions. An important part was played by the presentation of exemplary illustrations depicting features peculiar to nanotechnology. Special attention was paid to contributions from the natural and engineering sciences and from medicine.
Session 2
Foreseeable Trends - Nanotechnology in Society
In this session we have not only dealed with prospects of future technological development, but also with the supporting as well as impeding factors of that development present in the society of today. In such a discourse the science-public interface must be addressed. Contributions were expected to be drawn from the natural and engineering sciences and medicine, but also from the philosophy of science, the history of knowledge, and the sociology of science and technology.
Session 3
The Limits of Nanotechnology - Feasibility and Beyond
The focus here was not be solely on the limits of technical feasibility, but also on the economic, political, social, ethical, and legal limits currently placed on nanotechnology or on its foreseeable development. Contributions are expected from all of the above mentioned disciplines.
Session 4
Technology Assessment of Nanotechnology - New Approaches
First of all the various alternatives of technology assessment - their objectives, concepts, requirements, and limitations - have been introduced. The possibilities for their application on nanotechnology then were explored, and new opportunities for interaction between science and the public were outlined. Contributions were expected to be submitted from experts in technology assessment, but also from representatives of the natural and engineering sciences and medicine.
