Nanotechnology:Nanotechnology:

Get REAL!Get REAL!

Mike Treder, Executive Director

Center for Responsible Nanotechnology

www.CRNano.org

Mike Treder, Executive Director

Center for Responsible Nanotechnology

www.CRNano.org

1) Nanoscale technology Big machines making

small products

1) Nanoscale technology Big machines making

small products

2) Molecular manufacturing

Small machines making big products

2) Molecular manufacturing

Small machines making big products

What is REAL nanotechnology?What is REAL nanotechnology?

1) Nanoscale technology Incremental advances Familiar problems

1) Nanoscale technology Incremental advances Familiar problems

2) Molecular manufacturing Revolutionary advances Unfamiliar problems

2) Molecular manufacturing Revolutionary advances Unfamiliar problems

What is REAL nanotechnology?What is REAL nanotechnology?

What is REAL nanotechnology?What is REAL nanotechnology?

Not just new products —

Not just new products —

A new means of production!

A new means of production!

The NanofactoryThe Nanofactory

Images by John Burch, Lizard Fire Studios

Lifesaving medical Lifesaving medical robotsrobots

ANANDD

Untraceable weapons of Untraceable weapons of mass mass destructiondestruction

Networked computers Networked computers for everyone in the for everyone in the

worldworld

ANANDD

Networked cameras so Networked cameras so governments can watch governments can watch our every our every

movemove

Trillions of dollars of Trillions of dollars of abundanceabundance

ANANDD

A vicious scramble to A vicious scramble to own own

everythingeverything

Rapid invention of Rapid invention of wondrous productswondrous products

ANANDD

Weapons development Weapons development fast enough to fast enough to

destabilize any arms destabilize any arms racerace

What could nanofactories make?What could nanofactories make?

The REAL Risks We FaceThe REAL Risks We Face

• Economic disruption

• Environmental damage

• Unstable arms races

• WMD proliferation

• War

• Terrorism

• Universal surveillance

• No privacy

• World dictatorship

• Intellectual property violation

• Black markets

• Smuggling

Ultimate test for the

“Throw-away Society”?

Ultimate test for the

“Throw-away Society”?

Nano PollutionNano Pollution

SurveillanceSurveillance

Lack of PrivacyLack of Privacy

Easy to build

Hard to monitor

Easy to deliver

Obsolete almost immediately

Programmable and controllable

Nano WeaponsNano Weapons

WMD ProliferationWMD Proliferation

TerrorismTerrorism

Arms RaceArms Race

WarWar

We need real solutions… We need real solutions…

And we need them now.And we need them now.

Many DangersMany Dangers

Unstable Arms Race Totalitarianism Intrusive Surveillance Criminal or Terrorist Use Economic Disruption Social Chaos Black Market Environmental

Damage

And More...

Unstable Arms Race Totalitarianism Intrusive Surveillance Criminal or Terrorist Use Economic Disruption Social Chaos Black Market Environmental

Damage

And More...

!

Surveillance & Privacy

Information Technology

Ecological Remediation

Arms Control & Geopolitics

Sustainable Development

Social JusticeIntellectual

Property

Policing & Criminology

Business & Trade Medical Ethics &

Research

Implications for:Implications for:

Constraints on Solutions

Constraints on Solutions

• Must satisfy three classes of groups:Government (Guardian)Business (Commercial)Open Source (Information)

• Single solutions won’t work

• A patchwork will only make things worse

• Must satisfy three classes of groups:Government (Guardian)Business (Commercial)Open Source (Information)

• Single solutions won’t work

• A patchwork will only make things worse

http://CRNano.org/systems.htm

Solution OptionsSolution Options

• Single development program appears safest

• Early development appears best

• International cooperation is desirable

• Single development program appears safest

• Early development appears best

• International cooperation is desirable

When?When?

Brookhaven National Laboratory

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Idaho National Laboratory

Battelle – Foresight Roadmap Initiative

Technology Roadmap for Productive Nanosystems

Battelle – Foresight Roadmap Initiative

Technology Roadmap for Productive Nanosystems

We may know the answer soon…

CRN Policy and Implications Task Force

For Advanced Nanotechnology

CRN Policy and Implications Task Force

For Advanced Nanotechnology Study implications

Evaluate policy options Consider all stakeholders Seek integrated, comprehensive

solutions Publish recommendations Promote proposals with relevant

groups

Study implications Evaluate policy options Consider all stakeholders Seek integrated, comprehensive

solutions Publish recommendations Promote proposals with relevant

groups

For more information: For more information:

www.CRNano.org

Mike Treder — Executive Director Center for Responsible

Nanotechnology

mtreder@CRNano.org

www.CRNano.org

Mike Treder — Executive Director Center for Responsible

Nanotechnology

mtreder@CRNano.org