Conversations About Responsible Nanoresearch

There is currently a strong focus on responsible research in relation to the development of nanoscience and nanotechnology. This study presents a series of conversations with nanoresearchers, with the ‘European Commission recommendation on a code of conduct for responsible nanosciences and nanotechnologies research’ (EC-CoC) as its point of departure. Six types of reactions to the document are developed, illustrating the diversity existing within the scientific community in responses towards this kind of new approaches to governance. Three broad notions of responsible nanoresearch are presented. The article concludes by arguing that while the suggestion put forward in the EC-CoC brings the concept of responsible nanoresearch a long way, one crucial element is to be wanted, namely responsible nanoresearch as increased awareness of moral choices

Do new Ethical Issues Arise at Each Stage of Nanotechnological Development?

The literature concerning ethical issues associated with nanotechnologies has become prolific. However, it has been claimed that ethical problems are only at stake with rather sophisticated nanotechnologies such as active nanostructures, integrated nanosystems and heterogeneous molecular nanosystems, whereas more basic nanotechnologies such as passive nanostructures mainly pose technical difficulties. In this paper I argue that fundamental ethical issues are already at stake with this more basic kind of nanotechnologies and that ethics impacts every kind of nanotechnologies, already from the simplest kind of engineered nanoproducts. These ethical issues are mainly associated with the social desirability of nanotechnologies, with the difficulties to define nanotechnologies properly, with the important uncertainties surrounding nanotechnologies, with the threat of ‘nano-divide’, and with nanotechnology as ‘dual-use technology’

Biochemical studies on α-1,4-glucosans

As the α-l,4-glucosans are such an important factor in the metabolism of plants and animals, it is of great interest to know the chemical structure of these polysaccharides. Intensive studies have, therefore, been carried out on α-1,4-glucosans during the past 20-30 years. The result is that the two components of starch, and glycogen were among the first polysaccharides to be analysed by chemical, physical and biological methods, and to be synthesised in vitro.This thesis is concerned with attempts to obtain further information about the fine structure of these polysaccharides using a variety of methods for analysis, but with special reference to enzymic degradation methods. As an introduction to this work, a short review of the earlier investigations in the field will be given

Anticipating ethical issues in emerging IT

In this essay, a new approach to the ethics of emerging information technology will be presented, called anticipatory technology ethics (ATE). The ethics of emerging technology is the study of ethical issues at the R&D and introduction stage of technology development through anticipation of possible future devices, applications, and social consequences. In the essay, I will first locate emerging technology in the technology development cycle, after which I will consider ethical approaches to emerging technologies, as well as obstacles in developing such approaches. I will argue that any sound approach must centrally include futures studies of technology. I then present ATE and some applications of it to emerging information technologies. In ATE, ethical analysis is performed at three levels, the technology, artifact and application levels, and at each levels distinct types of ethical questions are asked. ATE analyses result in the identification and evaluation of a broad range of ethical issues that can be anticipated in relation to an emerging information technology. This ethical analysis can then be used for ethical recommendations for design or governance

Who Is Responsible? Nanotechnology and Responsibility in the Italian Daily Press

The chapter examines the news stories about nanotechnology in the Italian daily press to identify the different representations of responsibility in the coverage. The chapter extends the current research on the definition of responsibility by nanotechnology practitioners and highlights how responsibility is predominantly defined in the terms of the \u2018traditional contract of science\u2019. This implies that scientists\u2019 responsibility is primarily to progress scientific knowledge and deliver to society the benefits promised by scientific advances. Also, the analysis shows that the division of labour underlying the \u2018traditional contract of science\u2019 limits also the number and variety of topics on which different social actors can be rightfully considered as sources for the coverage. More specifically, the discussion of radical uncertainties surrounding the nanotechnology enterprises, of precautionary measures, of new institutional arrangements for deliberation on science and technology, is left entirely to civil society organizations, citizens, and humanities scholars