SciDev.Net

Nanotechnology, water and development

This report, written for the Meridian Institute by a team of scientists from South Africa and Sri Lanka, describes the general issues facing projects aimed at improving access to clean water in the developing world, as well as the specific challenges facing nano-based projects. The authors...

KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: 2006 | EN

Overview and comparison of conventional and nano-based water treatment technologies

This paper from the Meridian Institute describes a range of well-known and field-tested conventional approaches to removing contaminants from water as well as the current crop of nanotechnologies that could enhance existing -- or develop new -- water treatment technologies. For each approach or...

KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: October 2006 | EN

Low-Field Magnetic Separation of Monodisperse Fe3O4 Nanocrystals

This scientific article, written by researchers at Rice University in the United States, describes how magnetite (iron) nanocrystals -- or 'nanorust' -- can be used to remove arsenic from contaminated water. The authors describe the discovery of unexpected magnetic interactions between...

KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: November 2006 | EN

Nanotechnology and water treatment

This feature article from Nanowerk, written in collaboration with scientists, provides a short introduction to the role nanotechnology could play in resolving water shortage and quality issues. The authors describe how nanotechnologies are being used in water filtration, especially...

KEY DOCUMENT | EN

Nanotechnology and the challenge of clean water

This commentary, by South African scientists Thembela Hillie and Mbhuti Hlophe, examines nanoscience's potential to solve the technical challenges associated with removing pollutants from water. The authors describe a range of nano-based water treatment technologies already in the marketplace and...

KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: November 2007 | EN

Nanoscience and nanotechnology: Ethical, legal, social and environmental issues

This paper by scientists at the University of Hyderabad examines the nanoscience debate in India. Nanoscience's revolutionary potential and economic benefits are assessed against ethical, legal, social and environmental (ELSE) issues. The authors present commercial applications, investment, risks...

KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: March 2009 | EN

Nanotechnology: The social and ethical issues

This report, published by the Project on Emerging Technologies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, looks at social and ethical issues of emerging technologies, with a focus on nanotechnologies. The author examines social context issues such as unequal access to health care,...

KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: January 2009 | EN

2003 UK Nanotechnology enquiry, evidence from Brazil

In 2003, the UK Government commissioned the UK Royal Society, and the UK Royal Academy of Engineering, to conduct an enquiry into the potential risks and benefits of nanotechnology. For this, they collected evidence from various parties, including the science and technology officer of the British...

KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: 2003 | EN

International dialogue on responsible research and development of Nanotechnology

In June 2004, the Meridian Institute held a meeting of nanotechnology science policy advisors from 25 countries and the European Union. Argentina, Brazil, India, Mexico and South Africa were all represented. In preparation for the meeting, participants were asked to answer a questionnaire. In it,...

KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: June 2004 | EN

Nanotechnology and the Poor: Opportunities and risks

This report, published by the Meridian Institute describes the growing interest that developing countries, including Brazil, China, India and South Africa are showing for nanotechnology. It describes the ways in which nanotechnology applications could solve problems of health, sanitation, and...

KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: January 2005 | EN

Forward to the future: Nanotechnology and regulatory policy

This briefing paper from the US Pacific Research Institute explores three potential regulatory frameworks for nanotechnology: prohibiting it, limiting it to military applications, and regulating research into civilian applications. It says an outright ban is unworkable and restricting its use to...

KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: November 2002 | EN

The Big Down: Atomtech — technologies converging at the nanoscale

This report analyses the technological trend for decreasing size, focussing specifically on nanotechnology and its implications. Produced by the ETC Group, a Canadian non-governmental organisation and critic of nanotechnology, it provides an overview of nanotechnology, its impacts and risks. With...

KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: January 2003 | EN

Mind the Gap: Science and ethics in nanotechnology

This paper by Anisa Mnyusiwall and colleagues at the University of Toronto, Canada reviews the state of nanotechnology literature, funding and policy documents. Writing in the journal Nanotechnology, the authors say that although nanotechnology promises great developments for medicine,...

KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: February 2003 | EN

The Social and Economic Challenges of Nanotechnology

This report by the UK Government-funded Economic and Social Research Council presents an overview of nanotechnology and its commercial applications, from cosmetics to the defence industry. It features a chapter on the debate between those who claim that nanotechnology will have a positive impact on...

KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: July 2003 | EN

Much Ado About Nothing? … Or the 'Sand Witch?'

In this communiqué, the ETC Group, a Canadian non-governmental organisation and critic of nanotechnology, illustrates the lack of regulation and risk evaluation in the implementation of nanotechnologies. Following a forest fire in the United States, a soil-stabilising nanotechnology product was...

KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: September 2003 | EN

Nanotechnology: Small matter, many unknowns

The insurance industry trades in risk, and therefore has a vested interest in assessing the risks connected to emerging technologies. This report presents an overview by the leading insurance company Swiss Re. It assesses the range of risks to human health and the environment posed by...

KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: May 2004 | EN

Thirty Essential Studies

In this document, the Center for Responsible Nanotechnology identifies 30 studies it feels are necessary in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of all significant issues in anticipation of the implementation and development of nanotechnology over the coming decade. The studies are...

KEY DOCUMENT | EN

Nanotechnologies: A preliminary risk analysis

This report is the outcome of a workshop organised by the health and consumer protection directorate-general of the European Commission in March 2004. It considers the threats to human and environmental health posed by nanotechnology and makes recommendations to minimise these risks. Among its...

KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: 2004 | EN

Self Assessment Scorecards for Safer Development of Nanotechnology

These guidelines, published by the US Foresight Institute, include self-assessment scorecards that are intended to gauge how well nanotechnology professionals, the industry itself, and government policymakers comply with safety measures. In the preamble, the authors say that accepting...

KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: October 2004 | EN

Nanotech: The tiny revolution

This detailed overview by CMP Cientifica, one of Europe's largest information providers on nanotechnology, aims to introduce the wide variety of technologies falling under the nanotech umbrella and lay them out in a way that shows the scope and timing of their impacts. Intended for governments,...

KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: July 2002 | EN