Governance of Nanotechnology: Context, Principles and Challenges

Steven M. Hankin () and Sheona A. K. Read
Additional contact information
Steven M. Hankin: Institute of Occupational Medicine
Sheona A. K. Read: Institute of Occupational Medicine

Chapter Chapter 3 in Managing Risk in Nanotechnology, 2016, pp 29-49 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract Progress towards harnessing and utilising the unique properties of current generation nanomaterials in new commercial and industrial applications is developing across a broad range of areas. Despite the massive expectations of nanotechnologies and growth in its application, there is a widespread belief that the hopes of this emerging technology will only fully materialise if its development takes place responsibly. The extensive development of nanotechnologies and nano-enabled products has been accompanied by considerable concern regarding the possible risks for the environment, health and safety (EHS) and broader ethical, legal and social issues (ELSIs) associated with its application and use (or misuse). Research conducted to date has shown the potential risks of nanotechnologies to be associated with a high degree of complexity and uncertainty, with no clear-cut cause-and-effect relationships. As such, understanding and managing the EHS and ELSI implications of this emerging technology is considered to represent a global and trans-boundary task and may require a novel multidimensional approach to risk assessment and risk management within a governance framework.

Keywords: Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy; Responsible Development; Genetically Modify Organism; Governance Process; Governance Framework (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:innchp:978-3-319-32392-3_3

Ordering information: This item can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/9783319323923

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-32392-3_3

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Innovation, Technology, and Knowledge Management from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().