Nanotechnology Today: Earth Day “green nanotechnology”

Green Nanotechnology: It's Easier Than You Think. Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies

Green Nanotechnology: It's Easier Than You Think. The ability to eliminate waste and toxins from production processes early on, to create more efficient and flexible solar panels, and to remove contaminants from water is becoming an exciting reality with nanotechnology. This “green nanotechnology” involves designing nanoproducts for the environment and with the environment in mind.

Green nano is not just a niche among a few scientists or environmentalists, but is commercially viable among businesses; the investment community has recognized these green nano advances as big business and rewarded corporate innovators. A recent article, Green is Gold, advises investors: “Nowhere is the vision of technology in the service of sustainability more promising than in the field of nanotechnology,” (Forex Market, 3/15/07).

Last spring, several scientists, policymakers, lawyers, and industry representatives came together to participate in a series of dialogues on green nanotechnology held at the Woodrow Wilson Center. The American Chemical Society also held a symposium on Nanotechnology and the Environment at its annual meeting. On April 26, 2007, the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies will release its first report on green nanotechnology, which highlights the research breakthroughs, industry perspectives, and policy options discussed at those meetings. The report, Green Nanotechnology: It’s Easier Than You Think, is written by journalist and science writer, Karen Schmidt.

Please join us for the release of this report with James Hutchison, a University of Oregon chemist who applies green chemistry principles in his production of gold nanoparticles; Barbara Karn, an Environmental Protection Agency scientist who kicked off the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies’ Green Nano initiative while on detail at the Wilson Center; and John Carberry, an industry representative, who will discuss how it is both possible and profitable to be green with nanotechnology.

Speakers:

James E. Hutchison, Director, Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute’s Safer Nanomaterials and Nanomanufacturing Initiative, University of Oregon
Barbara Karn, Office of Research & Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Former Visiting Environmental Scientist, Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
John Carberry, Director, Environmental Technologies, DuPont

Download the report: (link will be available at time and date of the event)
Webcast (available at time and date of event