NIRT: From Laboratory to Society: Developing an Informed Approach to Nanoscale Science and Technology

Annual report 2003/2004

July 16, 2004

Davis Baird, PI

Overview

Publication & Presentations

“Imaging and Imagining Nanoscience and Engineering” conference

Grant activity

Courses taught on the societal and ethical implications of nanotechnology

Undergraduate research initiative

NanoCulture seminar series

South Carolina Citizens’ School of Nanotechnology

Miscellaneous other initiatives

External Advisory Committee Report

I. OVERVIEW

INTRODUCTION

This has been a busy and productive year for this NIRT. Specific activities are described in some detail in the following sections. Here I discuss four central aspects to the project: (1) project research; (2) efforts to establish the “nano-literate” campus; (3) efforts to take “nano-literacy” beyond USC; and (4) work toward the co-evolution of our understanding of the societal and ethical implications of nanotechnology with the science and engineering of the nanoscale.

RESEARCH

Productive Year: By any measure, this was a productive year for the research dimension of the project. Several publications appeared in print during 2003/04, including one book, Thing Knowledge (D. Baird), one specially edited journal issue, Hyle: Aesthetics and Visualization in Chemistry (J. Schummer and T. Spector), and seven assorted journal articles, book chapters or other pieces.

Publication agreements have been settled for two more books, one authored, Nanohype (D. Berube), and one edited, Discovering the Nanoscale (D. Baird, A. Nordmann, J. Schummer), and five special journal issues, two each of TechnŽ and Hyle in a joint publishing project on “Nanotech Challenges” (editors D. Baird and J. Schummer, respectively) and a specially edited issue of the Journal of Medicine and Phlosophy (G. Khushf and M. Roco) focused on the ethical and philosophical issues associated with converging technologies. Ten assorted journal articles, book chapters and other pieces also are forthcoming.

Project personnel delivered 82 presentations during 2003/04. These ran the gamut from presentations to professional societies (e.g., RIG Hughes, “Models, Representation and Implementation: Quantum Dots and Quantum Information Technology” at the 12th International Congress on the Logic Methodology and Philosophy of Science) to presentations to the developing societal and ethical implications of nanotechnology community (e.g., D. Baird, “Navigating Nano Through Society” at the NNI Workshop on Societal and Ethical Implications of Nanotechnology) to presentations to local community groups (e.g., D. Berube, “An Introduction to Nanotechnology” at USC’s “Alumni University”). This large number of presentations promises more publications as they are polished and submitted to various outlets.

Imaging and Imagining Nanoscience and Engineering: This year also saw the second of what promises to be an annual conference at the University of South Carolina devoted to various aspects of the societal and ethical implications of nanotechnology. This year’s conference focused on the way we represent and/or image the nanoscale. The conference was an experiment in bringing together a very wide variety of disciplinary interests in imaging the nanoscale.

The conference was well attended, bringing 80 registrants from seven different countries, along with a large number of local participants (who did not have to register). Attendance at conference sessions ran from a high of approximately 170 at Eric Drexler’s talk to a stable 50-60 at most of the other sessions.

The conference brought together for the first time the full spectrum of experts that deal with imaging and imagining nanoscience and engineering, including microscopists, experts in computer modeling, leaders in the nanotechnology  business, visionaries, science-fiction authors, artists, historians of science, and philosophers. In presentations and discussions they addressed such questions as: How do scientists generate and use images of individual atoms and molecules at the nanoscale? How do images and visionary narratives inspire scientists and engineers, writers and visual artists, and the broader public? How do images and stories about nanotechnology change as they make their way from science to the public via mass media? What moral and political messages do they convey?

Divided up in six sessions, each with five to six presentations, participants discussed issues of generating and interpreting scientific images of the nanoscale; epistemological and normative aspects of these representations; the representation of nano in science fiction and art; the role of visions, metaphors, and rhetoric in narratives about nano; and the way nano is covered in the mass media.

Along with these 28 contributed papers, the five-day conference featured eleven internationally known invited speakers. Phillip E. Russell (Materials Science, NC State) provided a fascinating overview of scanned probe microscopy and its current application in nanotechnology. JŸrgen Brickmann (Physical Chemistry, Darmstadt) presented the latest development in molec ular modeling and animated visualization techniques for nanoscale research. Peter Galison (Physics and History of Science, Harvard) put recent imaging practices in historical context by distinguishing between different views on the objectivity of images. Julio Ottino (Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern and editor of the AIChE Journal) discussed issues of designing and selecting images for scientific publications. K. Eric Drexler, the first visionary of nanotechnology, who also cofounded the Foresight Institute, defended his own vision of molecular nanotechnology as opposed to the much wider notion of nanoscale research currently in use. Christine Peterson, co-founder and President of Foresight, further explained and clarified Drexler’s ideas on molecular manufacturing. James Von Ehr (founder and CEO, Zyvex) explained how his company, developing the commercial potential of molecular manufacturing, has become profitable by developing nanotechnological instrumentation and nanostructured materials. Otto Piene, internationally renowned artist and Director Emeritus of the MIT Center for Advanced Visual Studies, provided personal insights into successful collaboration between artists and scientists during his career. Eric J. Heller (Physics and Chemistry, Harvard) exemplified the intriguing interplay between his own research in theoretical nanoscience and his creating of digital fine art. Kathleen Ann Goonan, leading American science-fiction author whose four recent novels have focused on how nanotechnology could transform our world, explained her particular approach to and inspiration for writing nano-science-fiction. Brooks Landon (English, University of Iowa) gave a comprehensive overview of current nano-science-fiction and how they reflect ideas about our society.

Task Area Collaborations: Our NIRT is composed of four “Task Areas ” that are designed to develop collaborative interdisciplinary research projects devoted to different aspects of nanoscale research. Task Area 1 is concerned with the interdisciplinary research space that nanotechnology is developing in. Several publications came out of this Task Area (e.g., J. Schummer, “Multidisciplinarity, Interdisciplinarity, and Patterns  of Research Collaboration in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Scientometrics, 59: 425-465). Task Area 1 ran one conference in Darmstadt, Germany, “Discovering the Nanoscale, II” (October 2003) a follow-up conference to the project’s first conference, “Discovering the Nanoscale” (Columbia, March, 2003). Further information on this conference is available at http://www.ifs.tu-darmstadt.de/phil/nano. In addition, three Task Area 1 members are co-editing a volume of essays inspired by this pair of conferences, Discovering the Nanoscale (Amsterdam: IOS Press, forthcoming).

Task Area 2 is concerned with understanding images and representations of the nanoscale. The main product of TA2 during 2003/04 was the “Imaging and Imagining” conference described above. Another follow-up conference in Germany is planned for May 2005. In addition Task Area members collaborated to create a poster presentation, “Visual Images in Nano Science/Technology” that was presented as part of the USC NanoCenter’s “Symposium V: Molecular Electronics.” The poster now hangs in the NanoCenter lobby.

Task Area 3 is concerned with an examination of the potential risks posed by nanotechnology, with particular emphasis on trying to understand “cascading effects.” TA 3 did not organize any major events during the year, although planning for next year’s conference is well underway. In addition several budding collaborations between TA personnel have gotten underway (e.g., G. Khushf and R. Best, “The Ethics and Culture of Human Enhancement”).

Task Area 4 is concerned with the uptake of nanotechnology into the public sphere. In addition to several lines of research pursued on an individual level (e.g., D. Berube, Nanohype), several collaborations have begun. These include efforts by D. Baird, D. Berube, R. Best, E. Munn and C. Toumey to develop citizen deliberation panels and polling studies to assess public attitudes about nanotechnology. Three NSF SDEST (Social Dimensions of Engineering, Science and Technology) grants were developed to pursue this work. Unfortunately none were funded. TA 4 also is beginning to plan for a major international congress on ethics and regulation of nanotechnology for spring 2006.

One other effort by TA 4 deserves mention. D. Berube, working with D. Baird, put in countless hours preparing USC’s contribution to one of the entrants in NSF’s NNIN (National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network) competition. Our piece was part of a large proposal anchored at MIT/UChi/UCB. The network was awarded to another consortium (Cornell/Stanford). While we didn’t get the grant, we did make many connections, which should provide helpful in the future.

The above demonstrates that the NIRT has been successful in developing and bringing collaborations in the individual task areas to fruition. However, I believe much more is possible here. Disciplines and discipline-based obligations (notably teaching) are powerful magnets drawing potential collaborators away from the interdisciplinary collaborations promised in the NIRT. During the coming year, more aggressive efforts will be taken to bring TA collaborators together.

NANO-LITERATE CAMPUS

A mail goal of our NIRT is to create the “nano-literate” campus. The goal is to make an appropriate level of information available to a broad segment of the campus. Our contention is that awareness of nanotechnology—what it is now and what it promises for the future—should extend well beyond those preparing for careers in science and engineering at the nanoscale. During the first year of the project, we took four important steps in the direction of the nano-literate campus: (1) three courses were taught; (2) eight undergraduates were engaged in supervised research on various aspects of the societal and ethical implications of nanotechnology; (3) a major effort was spent on submitting an NSF “IGERT” (Integrative Graduate Education Research Traineeship) grant; (4) planning got underway for the “Nano Semester” for spring 2005.

Courses: Two undergraduate courses—“Enhancing Humans” (George Khushf) and “Nanotech Implications (Ed Munn)—introduced various aspects of nanotechnology to a broad undergraduate audience that drew from students majoring in the sciences to students majoring in the humanities. A third graduate course focused on philosophical questions raised by nanotechnology was taught to nine graduate students in Philosophy. More details about all of these courses are in Section V below.

Undergraduate Research Initiative: Eight undergraduate students worked with five NIRT members to pursue a wide variety of research projects. For example, Ashley Shew, working with D. Baird, is examining the differences between codes of ethics in the sciences and in engineering. Nanotechnology, bridging these disciplines, will need a code of ethics that takes from codes found in both the sciences and in engineering, but which is a new blend of the two. Kiti Kajana, working with L. Knapp, is examining differences in the impact of and uptake of nanotechnology between developing countries, such as Albania, and industrialized countries. Four undergraduates, Glenn Prince, JD Shipman, William Vigen and Michael Yehl, working with D. Berube, prepared over 300 abstracts of publications on the various aspects of the societal implications of nanotechnology. More details about the undergraduate research carried on by the project is in Section VI below.

IGERT Grant: Davis Baird, Co-PI, working with PI Catherine Murphy (Chemistry) and Co-PI Michael Ameridis (Chemical Engineering) developed an interdisciplinary graduate education initiative. The basic idea was to bring graduate students pursuing degrees in the sciences and engineering at the nanoscale into closer contact with graduate students pursuing degrees in other disciplines examining the societal implications of nanotechnology. A grant to the NSF IGERT program was developed and submitted. Unfortunately it was not funded. However, we continue to believe that this is a good educational initiative. A second try was developed—with considerable help from NIRT member Ot‡vio Bueno—and this preproposal is pending.

Nano Semester: Planning is now underway to create a “Nano Semester ” for spring 2005. This semester will include several courses focusing on different aspects of the societal implications of nanotechnology, and several other events designed to bring the students in the different courses together for combined experiences. The March 2005 conference will be one such event. But we also aim to bring several notable nano researchers to campus for lectures. More detail about the Nano Semester is in Section V below.

NANO-LITERACY BEYOND USC

While our main focus is to create a nano-literate campus, we do not want to restrict ourselves to campus. We made several attempts to reach beyond the USC campus during 2003/04. These included numerous presentations. Thus, D. Baird gave “nano talks” to the Information Technology Council of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, and to the Southern Technology Council. Robert Best gave “nano talks” to medical school audiences. In addition, project personnel appeared in several print and radio media, including D. Baird on NPR’s Science Friday and D. Berube in Small Times. NIRT member Chris Robinson (Art) is working with a member of the Engineering faculty (Jed Lyons) to develop a nano exhibit at the new children’s museum in Columbia, Edventure.

A major effort in reaching out beyond the campus was the South Carolina Citizens’ School of Nanotechnology. This “School” consisted of a sequence of six meetings, each led by a different member of the USC NanoCenter (half of them NIRT members), but all coordinated by NIRT member, Chris Toumey. Approximately 45 members of the Columbia community attended. The project was not without flaws, but overall those who attended were extremely happy with the event. We are planning additional versions of this event for 2004/05.

CO-EVOLUTION

The fundamental concept beyond this NIRT’s approach to the societal and ethical implications of nanotechnology is co-evolution. Instead of developing our understanding of the ethical and societal implications of nanotechnology after the fact—and independently of the scientific and engineering research that went into already developed nanotechnologies—we propose to develop work on the societal and ethical implications in co-evolution with the science and engineering. This means developing ties and collaborations with various players in the development of nanotechnology. We start at home with ties to the USC NanoCenter. But we also aim to develop ties beyond USC.

Ties to the USC NanoCenter: At an administrative/institutional level, the NanoCenter has been very supportive of our project and of working to develop closer ties between NanoCenter scientists and engineers and NIRT personnel. Davis Baird was appointed Associate Director for Societal Implications of the NanoCenter in fall 2004. He now has a voice in NanoCenter planning. We are working to more thoroughly integrate the project’s website with the USC NanoCenter’s website. The NanoCenter has provided a significant amount of space (four offices) for project personnel. This provides an opportunity for informal “in-the-hallways” discussions between NIRT personnel and the scientists and engineers in the NanoCenter.

In addition, to office space, many project events occur in NanoCenter facilities. For this reason, the NanoCulture seminar series has brought scientist and engineering members of the NanoCenter into discussion with other project personnel. We also organized one NanoCulture “roundtable” on the Smalley/Drexler debate that included two chemists, two philosophers and a member of the English Department.

During spring 2003 Davis Baird (Philosophy) and Catherine Murphy (Chemistry) co-taught a freshmen Honors College course, Fundamentals of Inquiry in Science. By all measures the course was a success. Student evaluations were uniformly positive about bringing both points of view to the classroom, and both Baird and Murphy benefited from engaging with each other in this context. As part of the “Nano Semester” (spring 2005) Baird will team up with Loren Knapp (Biology) to teach a course, “Technical Sight” about instrumentally mediated seeing nanoscale objects and processes.

A larger challenge has been involving NIRT members more closely with the several science and engineering thrusts of the NanoCenter. We are developing a collaboration involving an engineer, Dr. Jed Lyons, who will engage engineering colleagues working on the polymer nanocomposite thrust, while simultaneously working with project personnel on various aspects of the societal implications of such work.

We are also working with other NanoCenter personnel to help improve the NanoCenter’s efforts at communication and outreach. The South Carolina Citizen’s School of Nanotechnology is an excellent example of this. In addition, we have been working to create materials for the NanoCenter’s lobby that communicate both the NanoCenter’s mission and the impact of this work on society. We are helping to develop a better logo and “visual look” for the NanoCenter.

All of these efforts are significantly moving ahead our agenda of co-evolution. More needs doing. We need to foster more and closer relationships between our research projects and those from the science and engineering end of the NanoCenter. We need to further capitalize on opportunities for developing joint projects that involve NanoCenter scientists and engineers with NIRT personnel. We need to better integrate our educational initiatives, working toward a nano-literate campus, with the science and engineering courses that contribute to our understanding of the nanoscale. However, for the first year of the project this is an excellent start.

Beyond USC: We are working to establish and cultivate ties to various other institutions that are playing important roles in the development of nanotechnology. These include centers where nanoscale science and engineering research is ongoing. But they also include the developing nano-business community, the community of lawyers focused on various aspects of nanotechnology and the emerging community of scholars working on the societal and ethical implications of nanotechnology.

In the area of research, we have developed a close collaboration with personnel at Brookhaven National Laboratory’s Center for Functional Nanomaterials. Several trips have been made north to BNL or south to USC, and a paper, co-authored by Tom Vogt (BNL), Davis Baird and Chris Robinson (USC) is being submitted for publication. Baird and David Berube also have a developing relationship with Rice University’s Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology. NIRT member George Khushf has developed a close working relationship with the “NBIC” (nano/bio/info/cogno) “converging technologies” community, and currently is co-editing a journal issue on the topic with Mihail Roco. Khushf also is developing a relationship with nano researchers at Sandia National Laboratory.

In the area of business, we are developing a working relationship with Sean Murdoch of the Nano Business Alliance and Atom Works. We have a good corresponding relationship with James von Ehr and other members of his company, Zyvex. Finally we are cultivating a relationship with Kelly Kordzik of the Texas Nanotechnology Initiative.

Law, regulation and policy clearly will be important areas where the rubber hits the road as far as the societal implications of nanotechnology are concerned. In addition to our own legal scholar, Robin Wilson, we are developing associations and collaborations with several other groups in this area. These include the Converging Technologies Bar Association, the Texas-based Winstead Law Firm that specializes in nano-related law, and the Nanotechnology Policy Forum.

It is vital that we cultivate good connections with the emerging SEIN (societal and ethical implications of nanotechnology) community. We had a good presence at the NNI’s Societal Implications Workshop held in December 2003. D. Baird was a member of the program committee for the event, and Baird, David Berube and Chris Toumey all gave presentations at it. A fourth team member, Robin Wilson, also attended. Baird is slated to make a presentation on SEIN at the NNI  “Research Directions II” Workshop scheduled for September, 2004. We have a good relationship with Michael Gorman, who directs the University of Virginia’s SEIN effort and with Bruce Lewenstein, who is the lead person on SEIN for the NNIN.

Finally, we are working to further capitalize on our close relationship with Alfred Nordmann and his colleagues at the TU Darmstadt. Nordmann, one of the original inspirations for our NIRT—when he was a faculty member at USC—is taking a lead role in organizing the SEIN community in Europe. Through this connection we hope to cultivate and coordinate SEIN collaborations and discussions between the US and the EU.

II. PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

PUBLICATIONS IN PRINT

BOOKS AND JOURNAL ISSUES

           a.         Baird, Davis.  Thing Knowledge: A Philosophy of Scientific Instruments. Berkeley, California: University of California Press.

           b.         Schummer, Joachim and Tami Spector. “Aesthetics and Visualization in Chemistry.” Special Issue of  Hyle: International Journal for Philosophy of Chemistry, Karlsruhe, Germany.

ARTICLES   

           a.         Baird, Davis. “Outline of a Materialist Epistemology.” In Hans Radder,  ed., The Philosophy of Scientific Experimentation, Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 39-67.

           b.         Baird, Davis. “Need to Study Ethical and Societal Implications of Nanotechnology,” Testimony to the U. S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation,

              c.         Khushf, George. “Systems Theory and the Ethics of Human Enhancement: A Framework for NBIC Convergence,”  in M. Roco, C Montemagno, eds., The Coevolution of Human Potential an Converging Technologies, Annals of the New York Academy of Science 1013: pp. 124-149, 2004.

           d.         Schummer, Joachim. “Multidisciplinarity, Interdisciplinarity, and Patterns of Research collaboration in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, ” Scientometrics 59, pp. 425-465.

           e.         Schummer, Joachim.  “Why Do Chemists Perform Experiments?”, in D. Sobczynska, P. Zeidler, E. Zielonacka-Lis, Chemistry in the Philosophical Melting Pot, Frankfurt/M, pp. 395- 410.

           f.      Schummer, Joachim. “Naturverhaltnisse in der modernen Wirkstoff-Forschung,” in K. Kornwachsm ed. Technik-System-Verantwortung, Munster (LIT). pp. 629-638.

           g.         Schummer, Joachim.  “The Notion of Nature in Chemistry.” Studies in History and Philosophy of Science 34, pp. 705-736.

PUBLICATIONS FORTHCOMING

BOOKS  AND JOURNAL ISSUES

           a.         Baird, Davis, and Alfred Nordmann and Joachim Schummer., eds. Discovering the Nanoscale, Amsterdam: IOS Press, forthcoming.

           b.         Baird, Davis, ed. Two special issues of TechnŽ (in joint publication with Hyle) on “Nanotech Challenges, forthcoming.

           c.         Berube, David.  Nanohype. Prometheus Press, forthcoming.

           d.         Khushf, George, and M. Roco, M., eds., special issue of the Journal of Medicine and Philosophy on Ethical and Philosophical Issues Associated with Converging Technologies,”  forthcomng.

           e.         Schummer, Joachim, ed. Two special issues of Hyle (in joint publication with TechnŽ) on “Nanotech Challenges, forthcoming.

ARTICLES   

           a.         Baird, Davis. “Navigating Nano Through Society.” In Mike Roco and Bill Bainbridge, eds., Societal and Ethical Implications of Nanotechnology, forthcoming.

           b.         Baird, Davis, and Cate Alexander. Panel Report on “Interaction with the Public and Social Networks.” In Mike Roco and Bill Bainbridge, eds., Societal and Ethical Implications of Nanotechnology, forthcoming.

           c.         Baird, Davis. “Converging Technologies, Diverging Values? European and American Perspectives on NBIC.” Report of the American Association for the Advancement of Science 29th Annual Policy Forum, forthcoming.

           d.         Baird, Davis and Ashley Shew. “Probing the History of Probe Microscopy,” In D. Baird, A. Nordmann, J. Schummer eds., Reading NanoScience, Amersterdam: IOS Press, forthcoming.

           e.         Berube, David.  “Rhetoric of Nanotechnology.” In D. Baird, A. Nordmann, J. Schummer eds., Reading NanoScience, Amersterdam: IOS Press, forthcoming.

           f.      Berube, David and J.D. Shipman. “Denialism: Drexler vs. Roco,” IEEE: Technology and Society, Winter, 2005, forthcoming.

           g.         Bueno, Ot‡vio. “Von Neumann, Self-Reproduction and the Constitution of Nanophenomena.” In D. Baird, A. Nordmann, J. Schummer eds., Reading NanoScience, Amersterdam: IOS Press, forthcoming.

           h.         Khushf, George. “A Hierarchical Architecture for Nano-scale Science and Technology: Taking Stock of the Claims About Science Made by Advocates of NBIC Convergence.” In D. Baird, A. Nordmann, J. Schummer eds., Reading NanoScience, Amersterdam: IOS Press, forthcoming.

           i.      Khushf , George. “ The Ethics of  Nanotechnolgy,” in The Ethics of Engineering, the National Academy of Engineering, forthcoming.

           j.      Munn, Ed. “The Expert’s Role in Nanotechnology.” In D. Baird, A. Nordmann, J. Schummer eds., Discovering the Nanoscale, Amersterdam: IOS Press, forthcoming.

           k.         Robinson, Chris. “Visualizing NanoTechnology.” In D. Baird, A. Nordmann, J. Schummer eds., Reading NanoScience, Amersterdam: IOS Press, forthcoming.

           l.      Schummer, Joachim. “Interdisciplinary Issues of Nanscale Research.” In D. Baird, A. Nordmann, J. Schummer eds., Reading NanoScience, Amersterdam: IOS Press, forthcoming.

           m.        Toumey, Chris. “Anticipating Public Reactions to Nanotechnology,” In Mike Roco and Bill Bainbridge, eds., Societal and Ethical Implications of Nanotechnology, forthcoming.

PRESENTATIONS—2003/04

            a.        Baird, Davis, with Chris Toumey and Walter Purvis. “Creating the Nano-literate Campus at the University of South Carolina,” American Society of Electrical Engineers, Annual Meeting, May 22, 2004.

           b.         Baird, Davis. “The Precisions of Nanotechnology,” Brookhaven National Laboratory, Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Annual User Meeting, After Dinner Address, Upton, NY, 19 May 2004.

           c.         Baird, Davis. “Where did Nano Come From?,” Information Technology Council, Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, Columbia, SC, 11 May 2004.

           d.         Baird, Davis.  “Technological Convergence, Societal Divergence? A Comparison between the US and the EU on NBIC,” American Association for the Advancement of Science, Policy Forum, Washington, DC, 22 April 2004.

           e.         Baird, Davis.  “Smalley v. Drexler: Bad Arguments All Around,” Contribution to a NanoCulture Roundtable, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 22 March 2004.

           f.      Baird, Davis. “From Scopes to ’Bots: Introducing Nanotechnology,” Opening lecture at the South Carolina Citizen’s School of Nanotechnology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 17 March 2004.

           g.         Baird, Davis. “nanoScience and Technology Studies at USC’s NanoCenter: Program in Societal and Ethical Implications of Nanotechnology.” Report to the NanoCenter’s External Advisory Board, Columbia, SC, 9 January 2004.

           h.         Baird, Davis. “Navigating Nano Through Society,” plenary lecture, National Nanotechnology Initiative Workshop on Societal and Ethical Implications of Nanotechnology, Washington, DC, 3 December 2003.

           i.      Baird, Davis, and Ashley Shew. “The Mythology of Nanotechnology,”  National Communication Association, Miami, FL, 23 November 2003.

           j.      Baird, Davis.  Poster presentation, “Navigating Nano through Time and Society,” USC NanoCenter  “Symposium V: Molecular Electronics,” Columbia, SC, 21 November 2003.

           k.         Baird, Davis, and Chris Robinson, Steve Lynn, Rich Ray and Ot‡vio Bueno.  Poster presentation, “Visual Images in Nano Science/Technology,” USC NanoCenter, “Symposium V: Molecular Electronics,” Columbia, SC, 21 November 2003.

           l.      Baird, Davis.  “Navigating Nano through Time and Society,” Southern Technology Council, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, NC, 5 November 2003.

           m.        Baird, Davis.  “Navigating Nano through Time and Society,” USC NanoCenter, Columbia, SC, 29 October 2003.

           n.         Baird, Davis, and Ashley Shew. “The Mythology of Nanotechnology,” Society for the Social Studies of Science, Annual Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, 16 October 2003.

           o.         Baird, Davis, and Ashley Shew. Workshop on “Probing the History of Scanning Tunneling Microscopy,” “Discovering the Nanoscale II,” Darmstadt, Germany,9 October 2003.

           p.         Baird, Davis and Ashley Shew. “The Mythology of Nanotechnology,” Centre Interuniversitaire de Recherche sur la Science et la Technologie, University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal, Canada, 3 October 2003.

           q.         Baird, Davis.  “One Word: Nanotechnology: On the future of the Society for Philosophy and Technology,” Society for Philosophy and Technology,” Park City, Utah, 9 July 2003.

           r.      Baird, Davis, and Ashley Shew. “Probing the History of Scanning Tunneling Microscopy,” Society for Philosophy and Technology,” Park City, Utah, 8 July 2003.

           s.      Baird, Davis.  “Need to Study Ethical and Societal Implications of Nanotechnology,” Testimony to the U. S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation,” Washington, D.C., 1 May 2003.

           t.      Berube, David. “An Introduction to Nanotechnology, “University of South Carolina Alumni University,” Columbia, SC, 21 May 2004.

           u.         Berube, David. “Smalley v. Drexler,” Contribution to a NanoCulture Roundtable, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 22 March 2004.

            v.        Berube, David.  “Building a Public Sphere: Hypotheses addressed in USC-NSF-NIRT.” National Communication Association Convention. Miami, FL. Nov. 2003.

           w.        Berube David.  “NanoTechnology and the Public Sphere,” NanoCulture Seminar, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, Oct.  2003.

           x.         Berube, David. “Smoke and Mirrors: SEIN and the NSF,” Nanodays, Rice University, Houston, TX, Oct. 2003.

           y.         Best, Robert. “Nanomedicine,” “South Carolina Citizen’s School of Nanotechnology,” University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, March 2004.

           z.      Best, Robert. “Nanomedicine Workshop,” NIH, Bethesda, MD, March 2004.