Nanotechnology has been heralded by some as a savior of humanity, while the naysayers have advocated placing a moratorium on nanotechnology research. Global challenges in areas of water, energy, health, and environment derive hope from nanotechnology for providing novel solutions. There are now several hundred nanotechnology-based products commercially available, while hundreds more are in the pipeline including those in the areas of agriculture and healthcare. So the question is what are the potential implications of these nanoscale products and materials, and how well to navigate this space while undertaking research and development by looking at cultural, global, medical, legal, safety, security, and environmental factors.

Dr. Irfan S. Ahmad

Executive Director at the University of Illinois Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology

Assistant Dean of Research, College of Engineering (UIUC)

Research Faculty, ABE (UIUC)

Dr. Ahmad received B.Sc. in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, in 1980; the MS and Ph.D. degrees in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), IL in 1997.

Produced by/Edit: Nadia Jassim

Music: Ronen Goldstein

Thank You:

ABE I^4 Seminar Coordinator, Dr. Xinlei Wang

Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (UIUC)

The National Science Foundation

The University of Illinois (UIUC)

Beckman Institute (UIUC)

NCN@Illinois

MNTL (UIUC)

ABE I4 Seminar

Researchers should cite this work as follows:

• Irfan S. Ahmad (2012), "Illinois 2012: Societal Implications of Nanotechnology in Addressing Grand Global Challenges," https://nanohub.org/resources/13119.

  BibTex | EndNote

1. AESB
2. Agricultural and Biological Engineering
3. Beckman
4. bio
5. CNST
6. engineering
7. engineering design
8. engineering education
9. nano
10. nano/bio
11. NCN@Illinois
12. safety
13. societal and ethical implications of nanotechnology
14. Societal Implications of Nanotechnology