ICON - A Partnership for Nanotechnology Stewardship and Sustainability

The Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology (CBEN) at Rice University has announced the formation of the International Council on Nanotechnology (ICON), a collaboration among academic, industry, regulatory, and nongovernmental interest groups that will work to assess, communicate, and reduce potential environmental and health risks associated with nanotechnology.

“ICON was created to directly and openly address issues of nanotechnology sustainability now, so that potential benefits can be maximized and potential pitfalls can be avoided,” says Vicki Colvin, director of CBEN and professor of chemistry and chemical engineering. “Success will depend on the efforts of many people and organizations from a variety of sectors.”

ICON welcomes participation from a diverse group of stakeholders, including academic researchers, government researchers and policy-makers, industrial researchers and safety officers, and members of nonprofit organizations. ICON is located at Rice and coordinated by CBEN. Activities in four categories will be supported by the council: 1) science and engineering research into the potential environmental and health impacts of engineered nanostructures; 2) social science research into public perceptions toward new technology and the role that regulatory and other governmental policies can and should play in nanotechnology stewardship; 3) collaborative policy activities that develop international standards for engineered nanostructure terminology and metrology, safety guidelines, and best laboratory practices; and 4) public communication and outreach that tracks all relevant technical data on nanotechnology’s potential risks and presents this information in terms and formats that are accessible by laypeople.

“What we’re really trying to do is create a new model for the introduction of emerging technologies into society,” says Kristen Kulinowski, executive director of CBEN and faculty fellow in chemistry at Rice. “Instead of waiting for problems to emerge and then reacting, we want to engage in research and policymaking to head off these potential problems.”

For more information, visit http://icon.rice.edu/.

—Jade Boyd