The mission of the Center for Nanotechnology in Society (CNS) at the University of California, Santa Barbara is to serve as a national research and education center, a network hub among researchers and educators concerned with nanotechnologies’ societal impacts, and a resource base for studying these impacts in the US and abroad.

The CNS carries out innovative and interdisciplinary research in three key areas:

• the historical context of nanotechnologies;

• the institutional and industrial processes of technological innovation of nanotechnologies along with their global diffusion and comparative impacts;

• the social risk perception and response to different applications of nanotechnologies.

The CNS also explores methods for public participation in setting the agenda for the future of nanotechnologies in the U.S. and abroad and supports a broad range of innovative education and outreach activities. Finally, the CNS presents its research results and other resources for use by researchers and the public.

The CNS is one of several Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers funded by the National Science Foundation as part of the National Nanotechnology Initiative. The CNS was funded for 5 years by the National Science Foundation in 2005 and opens its doors in January 2006. The Center is located on the campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara where it takes advantage of the campus’ rich environment for interdisciplinary research and collaborates with the California NanoSystems Institute, a California state-funded joint effort between UCSB and UCLA that includes industrial partners and is internationally recognized for nanoscale science and engineering.

The Center for Nanotechnology in Society at UCSB is located on the university's campus. We have office space in North Hall as well as in the California NanoSystems Institute building once it is completed.