Government commissions study into nanotechnology

The government has today launched an independent study to examine implications of using nanotechnology.

The technology involves working with materials on the nanoscale - 80,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair. The government believes that nanotechnology has the potential to "improve health and wealth", but they believe it is necessary that any regulatory framework is in place early on.

Science Minister Lord Sainsbury has commissioned the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering to conduct the independent study.

The study will summarise the current scientific knowledge on nanotechnology, consider environmental, health and safety, ethical and social implications of the technology, both now and in the future, and suggest areas where additional regulation should be considered.

Lord Sainsbury said: "Nanotechnology has the potential to create huge benefits in many areas, but we need to understand whether it raises new ethical, health and safety, or social issues which are not covered by current regulations.

"I have, therefore, commissioned the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering to look at current and future developments in nanotechnology and report on whether we need to introduce new regulations."

The study will be chaired by Ann Dowling, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Cambridge University.

Public engagement will be included in the study in the form of focus groups, a questionnaire survey and an online discussion forum. The final report of the study will be put into the public domain and be available on the Royal Society website.

Possible benefits of nanotechnology include improved treatment of disease through 'targeted drug delivery', faster computers with greater data storage and the creation of new materials that are lighter, stronger, more energy efficient and/or cheaper to produce.

Nanotechnology was recently the subject of an outburst from the Prince of Wales, who expressed his fears that a "grey goo" of nanomachines could destabilise the planet.

(GMcG)