Innovation Anthology #242:

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Environmental risks like dioxins in pulp effluent were discovered after the fact.

Joanne Shatkin believes industry has an opportunity to change that “Johnny-come- lately” scenario with the emergence of nanotechnology.

Shatkin is an environmental law expert who addressed this issue at the recent conference on nanotechnology and Forest Products in Edmonton. It was hosted by TAPPI and Alberta Ingenuity.

While the ability to measure nanomaterials is still under development, Shatkin believes current methods for lifecycle analysis may help.

JOANNE SHATKIN: So my proposal is to use a streamlined approach with combining lifecycle and risk analysis to be looking forward at what information do we need to make decisions, what kind of exposures might occur throughout the lifecycle of a product in order to make sure that we are thinking about the end of life, and about how products are used and the matrixes etc when we’re doing that analysis.

These issues are outlined in Joanne Shatkin’s book entitled Nanotechnology: Health and Environmental Risks.

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: 2009-07-16