TPACTechnology Policy and Assessment Center
 
 

TPAC Part of National Science Foundation Award for Center for Nanotechnology and Society

TPAC is a part of the National Science Foundation award for a new Center for Nanotechnology and Society (CNS-ASU), headquartered at Arizona State University and involving the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Georgia Institute of Technology, North Carolina State University, Rutgers University, the University of Colorado-Boulder, and other universities, individuals, and groups in the academic and private sector

CNS-ASU will implement a program of research and engagement called "real -time technology assessment" (RTTA), which consists of four methods of inquiry: mapping research dynamics of the NSE enterprise and its anticipated societal outcomes; monitoring the changing values of the public and of researchers regarding NSE; engaging researchers and various publics in deliberative and participatory forums; and reflexively assessing the impact of the information and experiences generated by its activities on the values held and choices made by the NSE researchers in its network. Through RTTA, CNS-ASU will probe the hypothesis that trajectories of NSE innovation can be steered toward socially desirable goals, and away from undesirable ones, by introducing a greater capacity for reflexiveness - that is, social learning that can expand the range of conscious choice - into knowledge-producing institutions. It organizes the research around two broad NSE-in-society themes - freedom, privacy, and security; and human identity, enhancement and biology - which also provide topic areas for study in RTTA activities such as research program assessment and scenario development. See http://www.cspo.org/projects/nanotechnology/

At Georgia Tech, a group of faculty associated with the Georgia Tech School of Public Policy (SPP) and other units will be part of CNS-ASU. The Georgia Tech team includes:

  1. Research and Innovation Systems Assessment - research to characterize the technical scope and dynamics of the NSE enterprise. Key faculty: Philip Shapira (SPP and Georgia Tech Project Director), Alan Porter (SPP/ISYE). Associated faculty: Jan Youtie (EDTV), Mario Iacopetta (Economics).
  2. Public Value Mapping - research to assess the societal outcomes or public value of NSE research activities. Key faculty: Barry Bozeman (SPP).
  3. Deliberation and Participation - research to develop visions of NSE-enabled futures and to elucidate public preferences. Key faculty: Susan Cozzens (SPP).

Other Georgia Tech faculty in the nanosciences are also associated as technical advisors.

CNS-ASU is sponsored for a five year term, beginning October 2005 (with NSF funding at approx $6.2 million). Georgia Tech team is scheduled to receive CNS funding via NSF of just over $698,000.

CNS-ASU is the largest in a network of newly funded NSF activities on nanotechnology and society, including a second center at University of California-Santa Barbara and additional projects at Harvard University and the University of South Carolina. This national network will support research and education on nanotechnology and social change, as well as provide educational and public outreach activities and international collaborations.