Innovation Anthology #241:
Engineering new materials at the nano or atomic scale holds great potential for improving products and industrial processes.
But what risks do these novel materials pose for human health or the environment?
Joanne Shatkin addressed this issue at the recent Conference on Nanotechnology and Forest Products which was hosted by Tappi and Alberta Ingenuity.
Shatkin is an author and managing director of CLF Ventures, an affiliate of the Conservation Law Foundation in the United States.
JOANNE SHATKIN: That’s what raises the concern. That if they behave differently from an engineering perspective, they also may behave differently from a biological and environmental perspective. So it raises some concerns that we need to address as these materials are being developed before they go widely out into the market.
That’s why Joanne Shatkin advocates that industry and regulators take a proactive approach towards nanotechnology.
JOANNE SHATKIN: My goal is to try to build sustainability into these new products early on. And the exciting piece about nanotechnology is you can engineer out the properties that you don’t want. So if we are looking for those properties now, we’re thinking about potential harm, then we can identify it early and deal with it.
Thanks today to Alberta Ingenuity.
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I’M CHERYL CROUCHER
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Alberta Ingenuity
Established in 2000, the Alberta Ingenuity Fund supports science and engineering research of the highest calibre, to create a prosperous future for the province of Alberta. It draws funding from a $1 billion endowment established in 2000 and managed by the Government of Alberta to build the capacity for innovation, especially in areas with long lasting social and economic impact.
Among its many programs, Alberta Ingenuity supports graduate students and university researchers, industrial research and commercialization partnerships, and has established several Centres and Institutes.
In January 2010, under the new Alberta Innovation Framework, Alberta Ingenuity was restructured and absorbed in the new agency Alberta Innovates Technology Solutions.
Program Date: 2009-07-14