| Nanotechnology is at the forefront of a series of technologies that promise to revolutionize our lives. Whether the revolution is for good or ill remains contentious. Most people, however, know very little about nanotechnology and have not considered the possible revolutionary effects. This course will use the excellent resources available at USC to consider these effects. We will look at the social and ethical implications of nanotechnology, but will begin by coming to understand just what nanotechnology might be. With the help of the scientist at USCs nanocenter we will look at what is currently possible and what the future might hold in nanotech. Then with the help of a multidisciplinary group of researchers here at USC who are working through an NSF grant to explore the way nanotechnology moves from the laboratory to the world, we will examine the social and ethical issues surrounding nanotech. We will read work by among others, Eric Drexler, Bill Joy, Andrew Feenberg, policy documents from the NSF and the ETC group, a fair amount of unpublished work by different participants in the debates about nanotech, some nano science fiction, as well as whatever material becomes current during the course. The students will be expected to write a temp paper, as series of short discussion papers, and a nanotech bibliography. The students will need a bit of extra flexibility as on occasion field trips will be required as well as attendance at some of the Imaging and Imagining the Nanoscale conference at USC in March. This course will give students the opportunity to watch and perhaps participate in an unfolding research program and will lead to a better understanding of both nanotechnology and current science and public policy issues.
|
