Team 3 Ned Bakelman Chris Clark Kamal Khan Dmitry Nikelshpur Bobby Tesoriero DCS860A Emerging Information Technology 1 Nanotechnology Risk Governance.

Team 3Ned Bakelman

Chris ClarkKamal Khan

Dmitry Nikelshpur Bobby Tesoriero

DCS860A Emerging Information Technology

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Nanotechnology Risk Governance

Discussion Items

• IntroductionDefinition, Origin, and Classification

• Nanotechnology Risks• Risk Governance Framework• Current State of Risk Governance• Conclusions/Recommendations

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Definition

Nanotechnology is the engineeringof functional systems at the molecular scale.

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Nanotechnology Origins and Meanings

• From the Greek word “nanos” meaning dwarf• Converted to “nano” by the Romans 2000

years ago• Scientific meaning of really, really, really small

or one billionth (1/1,000,000,000)• Technological meaning of any man-made

object whose size is one billionth of a meter.

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Example of Early Nanotechnology

• The 1700 year old “Lycurgus Cup”

• Contains silver and gold nano-particles

• Capable of changing colors depending on whether or not light is passing through it.

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Example of Early Nanotechnology

• 500 year old Renaissance Plate that contains copper and silver nano-particles incorporated into the plate.

• Both the Lycurgus Cup and the Renaissance plate nano-particles would not have seen without the use of microscopes.

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Some Small Naturally Occurring and Man-Made Structures

Copyright April 2009 The Pennsylvania State University

Stanford University

1 m

m

100

µm

10 µ

m

1 µm

100

nm

10 n

m

1 nm

100

pm

Transistor of 2007

Human hair

tissue

Bacterium cell

Human cell

Virus

Transistors of 20-30 Years ago

Protein

Individual atom

Drug molecule Quantum dot

DNA

Nano-scaleMicro-scaleMacro-scale

© 2009 Created by Sean Nash

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Four Generations of Nanotechnology

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Active Nanostructures

• Has the ability to change or evolve during its state of operation

• Evolution of morphology allows for the change of dimension and chemical composition with the ability for more successive changes into more complex structures and systems for larger phenomena

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Examples of Active Nanostructures

• Nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) – amplifiers, light-driven molecular motors, self-healing materials, energy storage devices, nanobiodevices

• Nanomedicine – includes artificial tissues built from the nanoscale for cell conditioning for uses in evolutionary systems, regenerative medicine, modified viruses, bacteria, and brain prothesis

• Nanotechnology - 3D transistors, actuators, laser-emitting devices

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Current Implementation

• Nanotechnology intersects many domains, including physics, chemistry, biology, materials science, genetics, and information and communication technologies.

• Nano-scale materials are in electronic, cosmetic, automotive and medical products.

• The nanotechnology market is estimated to reach $1 trillion domestically and $2.6 trillion globally by 2015. Two general risk categories:

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Risk Concerns• Human Health Risk Concerns

• Small size creates high surface area-to-mass ratio which present unique toxicity concerns.

• Free nanoparticles can enter the body through respiratory system or through ingestion and may result in toxic or other harmful effects.

• Skin absorption is the concern for products with nanomaterials that are not free, such as larger nanocomposites, nanotechnology surface coatings, or nanotechnology used in macroscale products (such as computers or tennis rackets).

• Environmental Risk Concerns• Nanoparticles' small size and high surface-area may affect their uptake

by both terrestrial and aquatic animals . • Nanoparticles also may be toxic to non-animal organisms. • Other environmental concerns include the potential for nanomaterials

to degrade into more toxic metabolites and possible harmful interactions between nanomaterials and other environmental contaminants

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IRGC’s Risk Governance Framework Components

1. Pre-assessmentPotential governance deficits in pre-assessment:

■ Warning: signals of a known risk have not been detected or recognized ■ Scope: a risk which is perceived as having only local consequences may in fact be much broader (and vice-versa) ■ Framing: different stakeholders may have conflicting views on the issue

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IRGC’s Risk Governance Framework Components (cont’d)

2. Appraisal Potential governance deficits in risk appraisal:

■ Information: there is scarcity of scientific data about the risk and/or about people’s concerns, or, if there issufficient information, there is a failure to accept it ■ Confidence: there is a low confidence level in the data, the model or the interpretation of it ■ Lack of attention to interdependencies and interactions between actors and between actors and the risk target ■ Inadequate attention is given to the concerns of stakeholders

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IRGC’s Risk Governance Framework Components (cont’d)

3. Characterization and EvaluationPotential governance deficits in risk characterization and

evaluation: ■ Exclusion: when some stakeholders and their views or significant benefits and other consequences are accidentally or deliberately excluded from the evaluation process ■ Indecision: when there is indecision or lack of responsiveness, whether voluntary (act of authority) or involuntary (overly inclusive process with stakeholders leads to inertia) ■ Transparency: when trade-offs are not made explicit and hidden agendas seem to determine the outcome of the evaluation process ■ Overlooking values – failing to fully consider social needs, environmental impacts, cost-benefit analyses and risk-benefit balances ■ Timing: when the timing issues are not properly addressed

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IRGC’s Risk Governance Framework Components (cont’d)

4. ManagementPotential governance deficits in risk management:

■ No entity is responsible for managing the risk, or several are and things “fall between the cracks”

■ Inadequate or ignored information: may lead to inappropriate decision ■ Regulation: no appropriate regulatory structure or process ■ Sustainability: short-term decisions lead to further, secondary problems ■ Short-term expediency: authority makes a decision on a knee-jerk basis to give the impression of management

■ Inflexibility: failure to revisit a risk decision in the light of new knowledge ■ Indecision/lack of timeliness: delays or inaction make matters worse ■ Inequity: decisions allot the risk and benefits unfairly ■ Accountability: decision makers are isolated from the impact of their decision

■ Implementation: decisions are ignored or poorly implemented

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IRGC’s Risk Governance Framework Components (cont’d)

5. CommunicationPotential governance deficits in risk communication:

■ One-way information instead of two-way communication prevents building a dialogue ■ The communication is not adapted to the category of risk (simple, complex, uncertain, ambiguous) ■ Communication does not account for how different stakeholders receive and accept information ■ Alienation: people’s or organizations’ concerns are treated as irrelevant or irrational; this may cause incomplete understanding of the full nature of risks as well as social mobilization against the institution or the final decision ■ Low level of confidence or trust in the decision-making process, the information given or the communication channel weakens the whole process

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Current State of Risk Governance• IRGC survey of 27 economies identified key aspects of risk governance:

• Focus on partnerships and engage stakeholders• Encourage responsible development• Current knowledge is insufficient to set new regulations• Collaboration and communication is the key to reducing risk

• The current state of knowledge on risks and associated governance is insufficient. Although there is wide-range collaboration among individuals and government and non-government research organizations, better overall governance is needed to assess, appraise, evaluate, manage, and communicate nanotechnology risks.

• Effective risk governance is especially important in the area of active nanostructure because of their higher complexity and dynamic behavior and new products are yet to be developed.

• The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommended to establish a better approach to governance that can support strategic risk research, provide adequate oversight, and encourage the broader public in the technological future. 1818

Conclusions/Recommendations

• Nanotechnology encompasses four generations: Active Nanostructures, Passive Nanostructures, systems of nanostructures and Molecular nanosytems.

• Active nanostructures have the ability to change or evolve during its state of operation and can be used in biological, mechanical, electronic, magnetic systems.

• The potential risks from engineered nanotechnology can be divided into two general categories: human health and environmental concerns

• Effective risk governance is especially important in the area of active nanostructure because of their higher complexity and dynamic behavior and new products are yet to be developed.

• The proposed approach to nanotechnology risk governance is based on the IRGC’s Risk Governance Framework, which was discussed earlier in this paper, combined with aspects of Agile IT Governance

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Iterative, Agile Approach to Nanotechnology Governance

Use available (and devise

new) risk management

tools

Define nanotechnology governance sub-

committees

Assess and quantify risks and impacts

Share and discuss current

data

Begin anew

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2

3

4

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Literature Review

[1] “Active Nanostructures and Nanosystems (ANN) nsf06595,” Active Nanostructure and NanoSystems, 15-Nov-2006. [Online]. Available: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2006/nsf06595/nsf06595.htm. [Accessed: 05-Dec-2010].

[2] Gorman, J.: “Buckymedicine: Coming Soon to A Pharmacy Near You?,” Science News, vol. 162, no. 2, p. 26, 2002.[3] Hagiya, M. Tanaka, F. and Kawamata I.:“IT for Synyhetic Biology and DNA Nanotechnology,” XRDS, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 16-21, Fall. 2010.[4] Mandel, G.: “NANOTECHNOLOGY GOVERNANCE,” Alabama law review, vol. 59, no. 5, pp. 1323-1384, 2008.[5] Morris, J. and J. Willis, “US Environmental Protection Agency Nanotechnology White Paper,” Office of Science Advisor, Feb-2007.[6] “Nanotechnology Consumer Products Inventory,” The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, 05-Dec-2010. [Online]. Available:

http://www.nanotechproject.org/inventories/consumer/. [Accessed: 05-Dec-2010].[7] “Nanotechnology - Foresight Institute,” Foresight Institute, 05-Dec-2010. [Online]. Available: http://www.foresight.org/. [Accessed: 05-Dec-2010].[8] “Nanotechnology: What is it, and why is it so “Big” now?, Module #1,,” Nano4Me.org, Apr-2009. [Online]. Available: http://www.nano4me.org/.

[Accessed: 05-Dec-2010].[9] Pettit, Ross: An Agile Approach To IT Governance. 2006.

http://www.agilejournal.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=184.[10] Rejeski, David, “Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies: 2010 Consumer Product Safety Commission Agenda & Priorities”, August 19, 2009.[11] Renn, O. and R. Mihail, “Nanotechnology and the Need for Risk Governance,” Nanoparticle Research, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 1-41, 2006.[12] Renn, O. and M. Roco, “White Paper on Nanotechnology Risk Governance,” International RIsk Governance Council, Jun-2006.[13] Sass, J. Simms, P. and Negin, E.: “Nanotechnologies: The Promise and the Peril,” Organic Consumer Association, 05-Dec-2010. [Online]. Available:

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_2145.cfm. [Accessed: 05-Dec-2010].[14] Singh, K.: “Risk Governance in Nanotechnology.”[15] Stuart, C.: “Particle size matters: Studies fail to include basics for assessing toxicity –

Small Times,” Electro IQ: The Portal for Electronics Manufacturing, 17-Mar-2006. [Online]. Available: http://www.electroiq.com/index/display/nanotech-article-display/270538/articles/small-times/environment/2006/03/particle-size-matters-studies-fail-to-include-basics-for-assessing-toxicity.html. [Accessed: 05-Dec-2010].

[16] Subramanian, V., J. Youtie, A. Porter, and P. Shapira, “Is there a shift to "active nanostructures"?,” Nanoparticle Research, pp. 1-10, 2009.[17] Weiss, R.: “Nanotechnology Regulation Needed, Critics Say - washingtonpost.com,” Washington Post, 05-Dec-2005.[18] “What is Nanotechnology?,” Center for Responsible Nanotechnology, 05-Dec-2010. [Online]. Available: http://www.crnano.org/whatis.htm.

[Accessed: 05-Dec-2010].

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