The Nanoethics Research Group

Center for Innovative Nanotechnology, Chulalongkorn University

Rationale

    Advances in nanotechnology call for a sustained investigation on how the technology is related to its socio-cultural and normative contexts. Such investigation is inherently interdisciplinary and touches upon the ethical, sociological, legal, management and other aspects. Public attitudes toward the technology, as one has seen in the case of genetically modified organisms, can have a tremendous impact on how technology is carried forward and even on the direction of technological research itself. Hence it is imperative that serious and systematic study on social and ethical impact of nanotechnology be conducted, not only to avoid the pitfalls, but to distinguish emotional reaction from rational judgment. No less important are the rules and regulations that the authorities need to lay down in order to allay public fears and to ensure safety to the environment.

    The Nanoethics Research Group, which is part of the Center for Innovative Nanotechnology, has been designed to carry out this type of investigation, especially in the context of Thailand and the Asian cultural milieu. The section intends to become a dominant player in the growing field of ‘nanoethics,’ a field which is seeing an emergence of a new international, peer-reviewed journal precisely on the topic, as well as a series of conferences worldwide. It will be conducted by the Center for Ethics of Science and Technology, a research unit under the Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University, whose purpose is precisely to investigate the various aspects in which science and technology are impacting society.


Significance of the Project

    The nanoethics section will be interdisciplinary, comprising fields such as chemistry, philosophy, polymer science, sociology, law and others. Hence the significance for the university is outstanding, since today’s new knowledge is created not through one single academic discipline alone. Such systematic collaboration among various disciplines is seen today as a key toward academic excellence.

    Furthermore, nanoethics will pit scientists, chemists and social scientists and humanists together in sustained dialogs. This will lead to an increasing number of research articles in new dimensions, which will eventually benefit each of the participating discipline.

Limits of the Project

    The nanoethics project will limit itself only to social, ethical, legal, and other social scientific and humanistic investigation of how nanotechnology is related to its wider contexts.

Work Plan and Time Frame (5 years plan)

1st Year:
Research leading to one or two articles to be published in peer-reviewed international journal, organization of one international conference, creation and maintenance of website.

2nd Year:
Research leading to one or two articles to be published in peer-reviewed international journal, organization of one national conference, creation and maintenance of website.

3rd Year:
Research leading to one or two articles to be published in peer-reviewed international journal, organization of one international conference, creation and maintenance of website.

4th Year:
Research leading to one or two articles to be published in peer-reviewed international journal, organization of one national conference, creation and maintenance of website.

5th Year:
Research leading to one or two articles to be published in peer-reviewed international journal, organization of one international conference, creation and maintenance of website.

Output

    The nanoethics section will produce the following each year:

• At least one research article published in peer-reviewed international journal per year.
• A regularly updated website in Thai and some English to disseminate knowledge about nanotechnology and their implications to the wider audience. The website could be stored on the server of the Center for Ethics of Science and Technology (www.stc.arts.chula.ac.th).
• One national or international conference and seminar which leads to international networking and research collaboration among nanoethicists and scholars in related disciplines. It is projected that the section will organize a national and an international meeting alternately each year.
• Network collaboration with the teaching program to conduct courses on nanoethics and related areas.

Key Performance Indicators

• Publication of research articles
• Attendance of a number of people to the seminars and conferences organized by the section
• Success of outreaching program measured by the amount of media coverage
• Policy impact measured by attendance by high level policy makers such as politicians or members of the national advisory council and translation into actual policy.

Benefits of the Project

    To the university

1. More high quality academic research.
2. More visibility in terms of the impact of the research conducted by the nanoethics section.
3. New content for courses of instruction and degree programs, leading to higher quality programs and better educated students.

    To society

1. Policy recommendations to the government regarding development and safety regulations of nanotechnology.
2. Ethical standards regarding nanotechnology to be implemented on the national scale.
3. Well informed public attitudes toward nanotechnology.

Members of the Group

1. Dr. Soraj Hongladarom (Leader of the Group), Department of Philosophy and Center for Ethics of Science and Technology, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University
2. Prof. Somparn Promta (Member), Department of Philosophy and Center for Ethics of Science and Technology, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University
3. Dr. Nutthita Chuankrerkkul (Member), The Metallurgy and Materials Science Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University
   

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