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Moving the nanoscience and technology (NST) debate forwards: short-term impacts, long-term uncertainty and the social constitution

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  • Arnall, Alexander
  • Parr, Douglass

Abstract

Nanoscience and technology (NST) are widely cited to be the defining technology for the 21st century. In recent years, the debate surrounding NST has become increasingly public, with much of this interest stemming from two radically opposing long-term visions of a NST-enabled future—‘nano-optimism’ and ‘nano-pessimism’. This paper demonstrates that NST is a complex and wide-ranging discipline, the future of which is characterised by uncertainty. It argues that consideration of the present-day issues surrounding NST is essential if the public debate is to move forwards. In particular, the social constitution of an emerging technology is crucial if any meaningful discussion surrounding costs and benefits is to be realised. An exploration of the social constitution of NST raises a number of issues, of which unintended consequences and the interests of those who own and control new technologies are highlighted.

Suggested Citation

  • Arnall, Alexander & Parr, Douglass, 2005. "Moving the nanoscience and technology (NST) debate forwards: short-term impacts, long-term uncertainty and the social constitution," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 27(1), pages 23-38.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:27:y:2005:i:1:p:23-38
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2004.10.005
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Poh Kam Wong & Yuen Ping Ho & Casey K. Chan, 2007. "Internationalization and evolution of application areas of an emerging technology: The case of nanotechnology," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 70(3), pages 715-737, March.
    2. Bowman, Diana M., 2007. "Patently obvious: Intellectual property rights and nanotechnology," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 29(3), pages 307-315.
    3. Tyshenko, Michael G., 2014. "Nanotechnology framing in the Canadian national news media," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 38-48.
    4. Boer, Duncan den & Rip, Arie & Speller, Sylvia, 2009. "Scripting possible futures of nanotechnologies: A methodology that enhances reflexivity," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 31(3), pages 295-304.
    5. Wiek, Arnim & Zemp, Stefan & Siegrist, Michael & Walter, Alexander I., 2007. "Sustainable governance of emerging technologies—Critical constellations in the agent network of nanotechnology," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 29(4), pages 388-406.
    6. Vasileios Ntouros & Ioannis Kousis & Dimitra Papadaki & Anna Laura Pisello & Margarita Niki Assimakopoulos, 2021. "Life Cycle Assessment on Different Synthetic Routes of ZIF-8 Nanomaterials," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-22, August.
    7. Nick Pidgeon & Barbara Harthorn & Terre Satterfield, 2011. "Nanotechnology Risk Perceptions and Communication: Emerging Technologies, Emerging Challenges," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(11), pages 1694-1700, November.
    8. Uskoković, Vuk, 2021. "Health economics matters in the nanomaterial world: Cost-effectiveness of utilizing an inhalable antibacterial nanomaterial for the treatment of multidrug-resistant pneumonia," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).

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