Nanotechnology in the Context of the History of Science

Nik Rokop,CEO
nLake Technology Partners, LLC

Although it is one of today's hottest scientific buzzwords, nanotechnology is part of a continuum of scientific discovery and progress, starting with early beliefs that there were four elements - earth, air, water, and fire - that constituted our world to today's detailed knowledge of atomic structures. Many significant steps have occurred along the path, including the invention of the microscope in the 1600s, the widespread adoption in the 1800s of the idea that atoms are the basic constituents of matter, the first detailed description of manufacturing at the atomic scale by Richard Feynman in 1959, and the invention of the atomic force microscope in 1986, which enabled us finally to "see" individual atoms.

One accepted definition of nanotechnology is the creation and utilization of materials, devices and systems through the control of matter at length scales less than 100 nanometers. Materials, devices and systems are ubiquitous in the modern world, and it is evident that nanotechnology will impact virtually everything - albeit not everything at once, and not in the same fashion.

Nanotechnology encompasses a broad collection of processes and applications that will make some products better, cheaper and faster, and it will enable us to create products and applications that are presently beyond our ability to imagine. Nanotechnology must be considered in the context of the specific application for which it is employed. In biology, DNA exists on the nanoscale. In electronics, silicon chips already have features that are less than 100nm. Some of these processes are already well understood. Others, we are only beginning to explore.

Due to the complexity and broad reach of nanotechnology, it is accepted practice to promote interdisciplinary collaborations and to include considerations of the impact on society, human health, and the environment. The business community recognizes the need to engage scientists - technical and social - and the public much earlier in the process than with prior innovations. And our ability to publish and disseminate information instantly ensures that this discourse is open and available for critical review.

To that end, nanotechnology centers with different foci are being funded around the globe. In addition, 8 percent of the National Nanotechnology Initiative's (NNI) research budget is directed toward societal impacts, potential risks, and education.

It is imperative that the public, our leaders, and lawmakers are educated and informed about this area so that they can make realistic assessments and have meaningful dialogue.To ensure the public and policy-makers have informed perspectives, insidious and inflammatory attacks on nanotechnology must be avoided through an understanding of the methods employed in the communication of risk.¹ This civil society roundtable provided through the Center on Nanotechnology and Society's Chicago Nano Forum and many others like it around the world are an important and vital part of this process.

Throughout the history of science, both hype and hope have accompanied innovation as mankind strives to find the answers to the mysteries of life. As science becomes increasingly more complex, we must endeavor to develop our understanding so that we can mitigate its risks while deriving its benefits. History has taught us this will be effective only through educated,balanced,and honest discourse.

Nik Rokop is the leader of the Chicago Microtechnology and Nanotechnology Community and CEO of nLake Technology Partners, LLC.

¹ An excellent article on this subject,which provides insight into the "fright factors" that are frequently used to great effect in creating concern in a public forum, is available on a website entitled UK Resilience: http://www.ukresilience.info/risk/section3/3_3.htm.