CNS offers alternating large-scale international conferences and smaller, more specialized meetings.

Nanotechnology has great potential for helping solve some of the world's most critical problems, such as environmental degradation, energy challenges, shortages of clean water and food, and pandemic diseases. Increased international collaboration on technological innovation will both help to advance our understanding in these areas, and lessen inequality between the global North and South.

Emerging Technologies/Emerging Economies (Nano Equity 2009), an international conference to be held in Washington, D.C., November 4-6, 2009, is a joint effort between CNS and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (which will host the conference). It will convene leaders from NGOs, government, the private sector, science and technology, and academia, to discuss new pathways for technology-based solutions to problems in four inter-related areas: energy/environment, water, food security, and health. Participants will come from the United States, Europe, and Japan; three of the largest emerging economies (China, India, and Brazil); and other developing countries.

For more information, visit the Nano Equity 2009 website.

Past Conferences:

September 2008: Designing Undergraduate Courses that Integrate Nanotechnology and Society

This workshop highlighted recent developments in addressing the societal impacts and policy implications of nanotechnology in education.  Keynote speakers outlined the rationale and record of innovative courses, with a particular emphasis on introductory and general education classes.

Twenty-two participating science educators and education administrators from 12 different institutions, roughly half from community colleges and half from universities, came to UCSB for the two-day workshop. Examples of NSE education courses focused on societal implications of technologies were featured as presentations, including a presentation by CNS Education Director and two CNS Graduate Fellows. Significant time was dedicated to brainstorming NSE and society curriculum for community college and university audiences, the results of which inform CNS’ educational development plans.

November 2007: Nanotechnology Occupational Health and Safety

In November 2007, CNS-UCSB hosted a major international conference on health and safety in laboratories and industrial workplaces employing nanotechnology, kicking off the CNS Conference Program to bring major annual nanotechnology and society-related events to the UC Santa Barbara campus. This three-day conference, “Nanotechnology and Occupational Health and Safety,” was the first anywhere to bring together over 100 industrial hygienists, social scientists, public policy officials, and scientists to examine issues relating to potential occupational health and safety risks posed by nanotechnology.  For more information, visit the conference Web site.

Joan Denton, Director of the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, delivers the keynote address at the 2007 Nanotechnology Occupational Health and Safety Conference.