Networks, Risk and Knowledge Sharing

What are the underlying and emergent structures and dynamics that shape opportunities and challenges in nanoscience and nanotechnology research and development? While research and development forges ahead, too little is understood by social scientists regarding management of risk, the role of social networks, and implications for policy and regulation of nanoscience and technology.

To explore these and other questions, the Nanoscience and Society Research Group of the Science, Technology and Society Initiative convenes its second annual international workshop on October 3, 2008 at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The workshop, "Nanotechnology and Society: Emerging Opportunities and Challenges," brings together social scientists working at the frontiers of nanotechnology and society research whose work is primarily focused on social networks, the organization and management of risk, and knowledge sharing in science and technology with nanoscientists and technologists, industry experts and policymakers. Our objective is to move forward dialogue within the social sciences as well as among social scientists, nanoscientists and policy researchers.

This workshop is supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0531171. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Workshop website: http://www.umass.edu/sts/nano/2008.html