Societal Dimensions of Nanotechnology

The United States Congress is currently refining the details of a Nanotechnology Research and Development Act. In contrast to the earlier investments, this new Act specifically calls for a focus on the societal and ethical implications of nanotechnology (SEIN). The Advocates of SEIN studies point to the difficult reception for genetically-modified organisms (GMOs), a technology that promised a new green revolution but encountered resistance in Europe, Canada, and other parts of the world.