The NELSI Landscape

Abstract

In the sci-fi world of Neal Stephenson's "The Diamond Age," the nanoscale science and technology challenges being grappled with at present had long been resolved and far surpassed. In this futuristic world, however, nano's ethical, legal, and social implications (NELSI) were still beleaguering humanity. His novel serves as a cautionary tale for today's "nanoethicists," science and technology studies (STS) scholars, nanoscale scientists and technologists, nanoentrepreneurs, nanoinvestors, policymakers, regulators, and society as a whole.

At this nascent stage of nanoscale science, technology, and engineering, there is still time (how much, we do not know) to proactively and openly tackle NELSI in tandem with, or even one step ahead of, nanoinnovation. The success of such efforts will depend on a constellation of concomitant factors, including resources, restraint, public engagement, political will international risk governance, creativity, and a healthy dose of realism. While this is a tall order, numerous efforts – albeit rather disparate and disjointed – have commenced. This chapter will analyze those efforts, with a particular focus on those based in the United States, and put forward a framework for NELSI with an eye toward avoiding nanoethics minefields, such as those presented in Stephenson's futuristic, nano-"enhanced" realm.

Keywords: nanotechnology, nanoethics, nanoscience, NELSI