societal and ethical issues (sei) in nanotechnology
The NNIN SEI Objective
The NNIN SEI program is committed to understanding the ethical and social implications of nanotechnology on society, to develop social and ethical consciousness within the NNIN user community and the broader nanotechnology community and to broaden the exploration of these implications by providing opportunities for SEI related research.
More information can be found at the NIN SEI portal: http://sei.nnin.org/
Fostering SEI Research at NNIN
As a member of the NNIN, Penn State is committed to fostering NNIN SEI objectives. PSU NNIN users are at the forefront of nanotechnology and can offer unique insight into this research. To this end, from time to time, users may be invited to participate in a research project, such as by answering a survey or participating in an interview. Although users are free to decline, and their decision to participate or not to participate will have no bearing on their ability to use the NNIN, we sincerely hope that users will consider each request and accept as many invitations as they can in the spirit of advancing knowledge on social and ethical issues and helping to ensure that NNIN remains a leader in nanotechnology innovation.
We are also committed to ensuring that these projects are relevant to NNIN, unburdensome to its users, and have met appropriate ethical standards. Thus, we will only release users' contact information to projects that have received prior approval from NNIN.
If you have any questions concerning these surveys please contact NNIN's SEI Coordinator, Dr. Katherine McComas (kam19@cornell.edu).
SEI Introduction as Part of PSU User Training
As a part of PSU NNIN On-Site User Safety Training and Lab Orientation, all users are
required to view the NNIN slides ( PDF or slideshow) prior to their safety training. After viewing, they must print out and sign the Acknowledgement Form and hand it in at their Safety Training and Orientation. Users will be responsible for the SEI content on the final session quiz. Users cannot become Nanofab certified unless the completed and signed acknowledgement form is handed in.
View the slides as a slideshow.
View the slides as a PDF.
Penn State NNIN SEI Program Material Acknowledgement (PDF)
SEI Links
Full NNIN Educational Materials on Social and Ethical Issues are available through the NNIN SEI Portal. http://sei.nnin.org
Penn State is also the home of the Science, Technology and Society (STS) Program, an interdisciplinary program administered by the College of Engineering and the College of Liberal Arts. http://www.sts.psu.edu/
A wide range of materials dealing with SEI are available though the resources page of the program website.
http://www.sts.psu.edu/Resources.htm
