First-year students perceptions of the societal and ethical implications of nanotechnology

Abstract

Nanotechnology has established itself as an important new scientific discipline with an extraordinary number of potential applications. Consequently, researchers and policy makers have identified a need for well-trained scientists, engineers, and technicians in nanotechnology and its ethical, legal and societal implications. This project builds on this consensus that workforce training and education must include, in addition to technical training, education on the ethical, legal, and societal implications of nanotechnology in the core courses so that future professionals and scientists will be able to shape the direction of nanotechnology policy. As an initial step, this pilot project sought to characterize the current level of awareness of the societal and ethical implications of nanotechnology among first-year engineering students. This project also proposes an educational approach for including the education of the societal and ethical implications of nanotechnology in engineering courses. Engineering students that encounter nanotechnology education across science, technology, social sciences and humanities may be better equipped to participate in debates about how societies ought to be transformed. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2010.