A group of experts has prepared a draft policy document on the ethics of nanotechnology. This will be discussed by COMEST on the 27-28 June 2006 in Paris.

The experts see nanotechnology as an interdisciplinary area of research which offers a great many opportunities for society. However it is considered important to raise awareness of the major ethical aspects. These include environmental and health implications, nanomedicine, privacy and confidentiality and intellectual property. They recommend strengthening ethics education and focusing research and development policies towards the interests of developing countries.

The experts also have written a chapter for a planned book “Nanotechnologies: science, ethics and policy issues”, which should be published later this year as part of UNESCO’s “Ethics of Science and Technology” series.

More information:

http://portal.unesco.org/shs/en/ev.php-URL_ID [..]

This story was posted on 28th June 2006.