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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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Lim&Lee

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.