In 2005, the U.S. National Science Foundation announced a set of major grants in nanotechnology in society, including the creation of Centers for Nanotechnology in Society at Arizona State University (CNS-ASU) and at the University of California, Santa Barbara (CNS-UCSB) to pursue scholarship on and methodological and theoretical approaches to the social studies of nanotechnology. With its $6.2 million award from NSF (# 0531194), CNS-ASU is the largest center for research, education and outreach on the societal aspects of nanotechnology in the world.

Goals

The guiding conceptual goals of CNS-ASU are two-fold: to increase reflexivity within the nanotechnology enterprise and to increase society’s capacity to engage in anticipatory governance of nanotechnology and other emerging technologies. “Reflexivity” refers to the capacity for social learning that informs about the available choices in decision making about nanotechnology. This reflexiveness can signal emerging problems, enabling what we call anticipatory governance – the ability of society and institutions to seek and understand a variety of inputs to manage emerging technologies while such management is still possible. Through this improved contextual awareness, we can help guide the path of nanotechnology knowledge and innovation toward more socially desirable outcomes and away from undesirable ones.

Research & Publications

CNS-ASU pursues these goals through two cross-cutting research programs: real-time technology assessment (RTTA), including such activity as analyzing research and innovation systems, surveying public opinion and values, creating opportunities for public deliberation and participation regarding nanotechnology decision-making, and evaluating the impact of CNS-ASU activities; and two thematic research clusters (TRC) that investigate equity and responsibility, and human identity, enhancement and biology. CNS-ASU also administers the NSF-funded STIR project (Socio-Technical Integration Research, #0849101), an international project that studies the extent to which collaborations between social and natural scientists working alongside one another in research laboratories may advance responsible innovation. CNS-ASU regularly publishes reports, papers and articles regarding its progress and findings, and the annual Yearbook of Nanotechnology in Society, with each volume representing not only a chronological slice of nanotechnology in society, but a thematic one, as well.

Education

CNS-ASU also is committed to training a community of scholars – from undergraduates to post-doctoral fellows – with new insight into the social dimensions of nanoscale science and engineering. CNS-ASU faculty have designed innovative undergraduate course work and mentored undergraduate researchers, including one who won a Fulbright fellowship to conduct CNS-related research in Mexico. Graduate students from the social sciences and humanities, as well as from nanoscale science and engineering, come to CNS-ASU to receive training as sophisticated and rigorous interdisciplinary scholars who always have a concern for the public aspect of their work. CNS-ASU also trains post-doctoral scholars in conducting research, training and outreach programs in a large, interdisciplinary environment unlike anywhere else in the field.

Outreach

CNS-ASU provides outreach to and events for the general public through such innovative programs as programs and demonstrations at museums and other venues through its collaboration with the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net), as well as information for policy makers through such programs as its briefings with the U.S. Congressional Nanotechnology Caucus and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.