Nanoscience and nanotechnology convergence

Abstract

A series of major conferences that emerged from the National Nanotechnology Initiative explored connections to other fields of science and engineering, resulting after 15 years in a comprehensive vision of how science, technology, and society could converge. One of two initial orientations focused on the human and ethical implications of nanotechnology, thus connecting nanoscience to the social sciences. The other considered the current partnership and possible future unification of four NBIC domains: Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Information technology, and new technologies based in Cognitive science. Most recently, the extensive series of book-length conference reports has led to a comprehensive overview, Handbook of Science and Technology Convergence, that outlines concepts, research methods, and educational approaches across four platforms that comprehensively define the world in which humans live: 1.Foundational technologies2.Human-scale phenomena3.The Earth-scale system4.Societal-scale implications.