We started off the day with an opening lecture that continued what John and Carlin touched upon yesterday. Today’s intrduction lecture discussed the more controversial side of scrience which is its application and restrictions. Basically, when scientists make any sort of discovery, they must debate all the benefits versus costs of that discovery. For example, Dan stated a very interesting point about these obsure scientific innovations: the things that scientists do or make is not what is important, but the fact that all they are doing is discovering laws in nature that already existed, and the bottom line is that you cnnot control what people discover. He goes on further by noting the fact that today, nanotechnology follows this pattern of cost and benefits, but the benefits so much outweigh the costs. The lecture in its entirety reminded me of my entire year in AP Enviromnetal Science. All year long, every human action was discovered and dissected in a cost versus benefit point of view. Everything from poaching to aquaculture to nuclear power would be up for discussion, and we would spend entire classes stating opinions on whether these processes would help the environment or further degrade it. Nanotechnology was not forgotten. It was actually one of the more heated topics. I always opposed its progression without regulation because of its nano-size, which could be released into the environment and accidentally destroy it from the inside out. Nanoparticles also could seep into pores and would be extremely difficult to excrete from one’s system. I am still partially skeptical about nanotechnology, even during the program, but now I believe that it sould be a field that should be pursued and grow, as long as it’s use is limiteduntil we learn ore about it.For instance, nanosilver socks should be taken off the market not only because it is a completely unnecessary product, but also because it could be potentially threatenting to an ecosystem and its inhabitants.
The science of manipulating atoms and molecules to physically alter or modify the cloth or engineer new fabrics
Nano silver socks
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2007/nsf07590/nsf07590.htm
http://www.cnsi.ucla.edu/NanoRegulatoryPolicy/pdfs/kysar.pdf
http://www.mapcruzin.com/news/rtk022602a.htm
http://www.azonano.com/Details.asp?ArticleID=1865
http://www.epa.gov/ncer/events/news/2004/10_26_04_calendar.html