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Sangin Kim, Jaejin Lee, Hanjo Lim*
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Ajou University, Suwon 443-749, Korea.
4th Iran Nano Festival, Tehran / Iran, Oct. 5th, 2011
World Trends of Responsible Nanotechnology Researches
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Research Ethics and Needs of REs in NT Researches2
Some Important World Trends4
3 Ethics in Nano-scale Science & Technology R & D
Contents
Characteristics of Nano-scale Science & Technology Characteristics of Nano-scale Science & Technology1
Summary5
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1 Characteristics of Nano-scale Sci. & Tech.
NST : Sci. & Technol. exploring and utilizing drastic property change of materials in nanoscale (less than 100nm).
• large area materials.
• low-dimensional systems.
• structural change → property change.
Enabling, Disruptive, Ultimate manufacture technology.
General purpose material technol. , One of the NBIC systems.
Passive/Active nanostructures → system of nanosystems → converging technologies from nanoscale.
Materials in use define the age of culture and civilization.• Next era: NT era
4J. Ryan, GSF ’04.7
1 Characteristics of Nano-scale Sci. & Technology
Quantum Physics
Molecular Biology
Nanomaterials: bulk, coating & soft materials
Manufacture
Materials Science
Supramolecular Chemistry
Nanotechnology for functional devices & ICT
Bionanotechnology
Nanotechnology for chemistry & environment
Suspension and inks
Colourants
Nano-structured catalysts
Nano-filtration
Nano-tribology
Bio-sensors
BiochipBiological self-assembly
Batteries
Energy storage
Bio-catalysisSupra-molecular self-assembly
NanoelectronicsNano-mechanical devices
Organic elecronics
Carbon nanotubes
Nano-composites
Tool coatings
Inorganic self-assembly
Photo-voltaic
Quantum dot LEDs and LDs
Magneto-resistive devices
Micro-nano implants
Bio-molecular data processing
Drug deliveryBio-synthesis of functinal molocules
Aerospace
Cosmetics
Textile
Material
Supply
Chemical
Electronics,
Information
pharmaceutical
Food & beverage
DNA ArrayEnvironmental
1 Generations of Products and Productive ProcessesTimeline for beginning of industrial prototyping and
nanotechnology commercialization (2000-2020)
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2 Research Ethics (REs) and Needs of REs in NT Researches
Ethics in general• Law : constrain human actions, objective discipline.
• Morality : regarding internal, subjective to a person.
• Ethics : combine objectivity of law and subjectivity of morality.
Ethical attitude is difficult to control by law, but very important for the credibility of an expert and the progress of a scientific society.
Research Integrity in hard science (e.g., Physics)
• Same results from identical experiments (Needs of Lab. Notes)
• Very few Basic Laws (4 fundamental forces)
• Exact logics predictability
• Scientific research needs Exactness, Objectivity and Predictability.
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2 Ethical Issues in Research Activities (History and Present)
Life ethics : Considerations on human body and animal test.
Implementations at funding agencies
• Nuernberg code (1949), Helsinki declaration (1964), Belmont Report (1979)
Ethical issues on the problem of dishonesty• William Summerin (1974), Herrmann Brach (1990), J. Hendrik Schoen (2002)
• USA : started in 1985 → OSI ('89), UK: MRC ('97), Germany : DFG ('97),• Korea : Edu. Ethics at Med. Sch. ('80), Not active until 2005 (hum. stem cell).
Present status of Researcher Ethics• Expands depending on the confronted situation.
• Diverse aspects in researches → difficult to list up all the items.
• Code of conduct : ethics for the experts → difficult to be applied by the law.
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Lim&Lee2 Research Ethics (REs) and Needs of REs in
NT Researches
Principles to be included in the Research Ethics• Exactness, objectiveness & reproducibility of the results (science).
• Research results should be positive for the human being.
• Research activity should meet general concept of ethics.
- Ex) Seven ethical principles of scientist (BAAS, Sept. 2007).
Actual situation : Rather complicated. (Ex : plagiarism)• Plagiarizing /paper duplicating : stealing or cheating the creativity of peers.
- Simply rejected in the hard science communities.
- Changing eng. variables and cumulative res.: import. in process engineering.
- Concepts of plagiarism in engineering fields are slightly different.
• NT products : Process depend. properties. → Importance of Res. Ethics.
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3 Ethics in Nano-scale Sci. & Techcnol. R&D
Social reaction on new technology and NT visibility
Lessons from GMO• Insufficient dialogue btw researchers and public in the early stage of R&D.
• Dominant supplier (e.g., Monsanto) major consumption by poor people (Asia and Africa).
• Concerns : Possibility of long-term side effects.
Dreams
Night -mares
Reality
2010
2003
Source : Dr. R. Maruyama (SONY)
Responsible Res. in NST is very important at present status.
NT: Entering to the real industry. Lack of informations on side effects.
vs
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Lim&Lee
3 Risks in Nano-scale Science and Technology
• Not enough proof of no-danger (ex : toxicity of nanoparticles).
• Risk of risk communication (ex : public perception on NP toxicity).
• Nano divide like the “digital divide”.
• Military abuse and/or Privacy concerns. Uncertain toxicological effects of nanoparticles
• Depend on size, shape, surface area, chemical compositions.
- CNT Carbon nanohorn, Accumulation of Ag NPs at kidney.
- Disagreement between data for the same NPs (flaws).
• Depend on diff. stages of manuf. and/or life-cycle of the products.
- Extensive study on EHS issue is crucial for a further progress of NT.
- EHS study : Expensive. Res. Funds on EHS study from the companies (?).
Risks of NTs
vs
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3 Ethical, Legal & Soc. Impl. Issues in NT Res. Factors needed for the responsible researches
• Metrology and stadardization are essential for technol. & business develops.
- Errors or false explanations. on the phys. prop. subject to surf. and interfaces.
NST should be based on a hard science characteristics.
• Exposing infos/data is important for the public understanding (EHS).
• Communication with public : not to mislead the public (positive or negative).
- NT : Fledgling revolutionary technology → Broad influence on our life.
Social agreement is crucial for its broad diffus. to the public as IT does currently.
- Problem : Easy to be unconditionally enthusiastic or exaggeratedly loathsome.
- Conflicts btw improvements of individual life quality and social welfare.
• Should keep a fair position in providing positive and negative infos.
• Wait so that society can prepare a concrete countermeasure on neg. effects.
• Serious contemplations are needed on…. .
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3 Ethical, Legal & Soc. Impl. Issues in NT Res.
- How the NT products would be used?
- What products or technologies would come from NTs?
- What kind of restrictions should be imposed on the NT researchers?
- How can we overcome the side effects of NT products?
Suggestions
• ELSI evaluatation including EHS study (ex ; TiO2, CNT): increase of budget.
- large scale interdisciplinary and systematic cooperation (problem identification/ case studies/ethic-legal analysis/consensus developments/public consultation/ etc.
• International cooperation and International (or sub-int’l) standards.
- EHS: OECD WPMN, Policy/Societal Implications: OECD WPN
- Standardization: ISO TC 229, Ethics: UNESCO
• Formation of experts for the EHS study and ELSI issues.
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Lim&Lee
4 Some Important World Trends
To Develop
To Foster administr. changes and communications mechanisms.
Existence of significant barriers in NT commercialization• UNESCO: COMEST Activities - Several Publications on NT Ethics from 2006, Trying CoC• USA : - Recognize importance of NT-related EHS & ELSI issues - Increase NNI budget from 67.9 M$(’08) to 116.9 M$(’11)
E U : Most active in 3 major regions for respons. researches.
clear principles to identify plausible risks of NT products.
and implement strategic planning on EHS issues. information resources on EHS issues.
7 principles ; Meaning, Sustainability, Precaution, Inclusiveness, Excellence, Innovation, and Accountability.
- 2008 : Issue of EC-CoC [Def. Responsibity(Ⅹ), 7 principles]
(source : 2010 NNI Report to US President & Congress)•
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4 Some Important World Trends
ex 1) Sustainability : NS & NT research activities should be safe,
ethical and contribute to sustainable development serving
the sustainability objectives of the Community as well as contributing to the United Nations’ Millennium Develop- ment Goal. They should not harm or create a biological, physical or moral threat to people, animals, plants or the environment, at present or in the future. ex 2) Innovation : Governance of NS & NT research activities should encourage maximum creativity, flexibility and plan- ning ability for innovation and growth.
EC-CoC : Not Mandatory, Voluntary & Incentives, Credits
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4 Some Important World Trends
- 2011 : Issue of EC-CoC MasterPlan and CodeMeter.
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4 Some Important World Trends
- 2011 : Issue of EC-CoC MasterPlan and CodeMeter.
Possible scenarios to extend the scope of the EU-CoC.
• Japan : No specific declaration from Japan NT Societies• China : NT goods certification. Code of Conduct (?) • Korea : Active discussions on Response. NT Res., Outcome: 4 Laws.
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5 SUMMARY
Ethical attitudes are important for a new technol. like NT : Exactness, objectiveness, predicatability, and general concepts of ethics.
ELSI Issues are important for the sustainable future of NST - Ethical attitude of NST researchers.
- Voluntary and appropriate communication with public.
- Wait the society prepare concrete countermeasure on negative effects.
NT: enabling, disruptive and ultimate manufacture technology. some uncertainty in EHS effects : Not well solved yet.
Interdisciplinary researches, international cooperations and budget: crucial
Some major economies : trying to provide CoC.