Pandora’s Boxes: Discussion of Nanotechnology’s Ethical Implications, January 15

UPDATE: listen to the audio recording of this event.

In her report in the January/February 2013 issue of Orion, “Pandora’s Boxes,” writer Heather Millar visits a team of Duke University scientists studying the implications of nanotechnology—a new technology already in wide use by industry, but still poorly understood by scientists and policymakers.

“The use of man-made nanoparticles has spread into almost every area of our lives: food, clothing, medicine, shampoo, toothpaste, sunscreen, and thousands of other products,” Millar writes. “Regulatory structures, both here and abroad, are completely unprepared for this onslaught of nanoproducts, because nanoparticles don’t fit into traditional regulatory categories.”

What, exactly, is nanotechnology—and what are the implications for human and environmental health? What key questions are industry and government failing to ask about this new technology?

On January 15, at 4 p.m. Eastern/1 p.m. Pacific, you’re invited to explore these questions and more with Millar and a panel of experts, during Orion’s next live web event.

Our guests include:

Heather Millar, who has written more than three hundred articles covering science and environmental issues for publications such as The Atlantic, Smithsonian, and The New York Times;

Daniel Moore, director of The Nanoethics Group at California Polytechnic and co-author of What is Nanotechnology and Why Does it Matter?;

Jaydee Hanson, Policy Director at the International Center for Technology Assessment, based in Washington, DC, and co-chair for the Nanotechnology Taskforce of the Transatlantic Consumers Dialogue;

and Mark Wiesner, whose work at Duke on nanotechnology was featured in the January/February issue of Orion.

The event is free to join, will be moderated by Orion staff, and is open to all readers and friends. Register here.

Orion hosts live web events every month. Sign up to be alerted by e-mail when a new one is announced.