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Congressional Testimony Highlights Shortfalls in Current U.S. Government Strategy May Effect the Process of Development
:: 21 April, 2008
Without clear leadership and more transparency in federal risk research investment, the emergence of safe nanotechnologies will be a happy accident, rather than a foregone conclusion, says Dr. Andrew Maynard. This sentiment was voiced today by Dr. Maynard in testimony at the House Science & Technology Committee’s hearing on the National Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act of 2008.
“Activities to date within the federal nanotechnology initiative have been less than transparent, to the detriment of an effective strategy for nanotechnology development and use,” Dr. Maynard says in written testimony submitted to the committee. “There is a yawning knowledge-gap between nanomaterials entering commerce now and what we know about their safety. This uncertainty over how to develop nanotechnologies safely is hamstringing regulators, impeding nano businesses, and confusing consumers. In short, moving towards the nanotechnology future without a clear understanding of the possible risks, and how to manage them, is like driving blindfolded.”
A Project assessment of purported nanotechnology risk-relevant research published by the federal government’s National Nanotechnology Initiative -VIEW EHS INVENTORY - reveals that spending on environment, health and safety-focused research projects in 2006 was substantially lower than that claimed by U.S. officials.
“Research projects with the primary aim of understanding and managing the risks of nanotechnology accounted for only $13 million in funding for 2006,” according to Dr. Maynard. “Over the same period, European Union nations invested nearly $24 million in similar nanotech risk-focused projects—almost twice as much as the U.S. There is undoubtedly potentially-relevant research buried in other U.S. government funded projects. But without transparency, it is impossible to assess the true value of this research, or ensure it is used to enable the development of safe nanotechnologies.”
In his testimony Dr. Maynard also renews calls for a reorganization of a federal nanotechnology risk research strategy that emphasizes a “top-down” approach to directing environment, health and safety studies on the cutting-edge technology; urges a minimum of 10 percent of the federal nanotechnology research budget be committed to highly or substantially relevant environmental, health and safety topics – a significant increase from current levels; and the creation of public-private partnerships that will leverage more funding for research.
On top of discussing issues pertaining to the federal investment in nanotechnology research, Dr. Maynard addresses his concern with the “nano-readiness” of America’s students, teachers and workforce in his testimony – particularly through his endorsement of initiatives aimed at recruiting and preparing students to pursue education in nanotechnology. The House nanotechnology legislation at issue focuses significant attention on nanotechnology education.
“When today China has as many scientists and engineers working on nanotechnology as the U.S., it is critical to support initiatives in nanotechnology education aimed at our young people,” Dr. Maynard says.
Note for Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology refers broadly to a field of applied science and technology whose unifying theme is the control of matter on the atomic and molecular scale, generally 100 nanometers or smaller, and the fabrication of devices with critical dimensions that lie within that size range.
Nanotechnology is a highly multidisciplinary field, drawing from fields such as applied physics, materials science, interface and colloid science, device physics, supramolecular chemistry (which refers to the area of chemistry that focuses on the noncovalent bonding interactions of molecules), self-replicating machines and robotics, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, biological engineering, and electrical engineering. Much speculation exists as to what may result from these lines of research. Nanotechnology can be seen as an extension of existing sciences into the nanoscale, or as a recasting of existing sciences using a newer, more modern term. Grouping of the sciences under the umbrella of "nanotechnology" has been questioned on the basis that there is little actual boundary-crossing between the different sciences that operate on the nano-scale. Instrumentation is the only area of technology common to all disciplines; on the contrary, for example pharmaceutical and semiconductor industries do not "talk with each other". Corporations that call their products "nanotechnology" typically market them only to a certain industrial cluster.
Two main approaches are used in nanotechnology. In the "bottom-up" approach, materials and devices are built from molecular components which assemble themselves chemically by principles of molecular recognition. In the "top-down" approach, nano-objects are constructed from larger entities without atomic-level control. The impetus for nanotechnology comes from a renewed interest in Interface and Colloid Science, coupled with a new generation of analytical tools such as the atomic force microscope (AFM), and the scanning tunneling microscope (STM). Combined with refined processes such as electron beam lithography and molecular beam epitaxy, these instruments allow the deliberate manipulation of nanostructures, and lead to the observation of novel phenomena.
Examples of nanotechnology in modern use are the manufacture of polymers based on molecular structure, and the design of computer chip layouts based on surface science. Despite the great promise of numerous nanotechnologies such as quantum dots and nanotubes, real commercial applications have mainly used the advantages of colloidal nanoparticles in bulk form, such as suntan lotion, cosmetics, protective coatings, drug delivery, and stain resistant clothing.
About National Nanotechnology Initiative
The National Nanotechnology Initiative is an United States federal nanoscale science, engineering, and technology research and development program. Initiative participants (cited below) state that its four goals are to
maintain a world-class research and development (R&D) program;
facilitate technology transfer;
develop educational resources, a skilled workforce, and supporting research infrastructure and tools; and
support responsible development of nanotechnology.
