|
Past CNS-UCSB Events
April 2009: The Jetsons Fallacy: Science Fiction, Biotechnology, and the Future of the Human Species
Science fiction films and novels often present us with remarkably imaginative visions of the future. In this talk I argue that all the most popular and influential versions of such sci-fi visions – movies like Star Wars, Star Trek, Blade Runner, AI, Spiderman, and Iron Man – systematically mislead us in one important respect: they depict a future in which technology becomes very sophisticated, but most humans remain basically the same as they are today. This is unrealistic, I argue, because today’s major trends in biotechnology suggest that a very different kind of world actually awaits our children and grandchildren. Over the next half century, entire populations of humans will increasingly use pharmaceuticals, bioelectronics, and genetic interventions to enhance their physical and mental capabilities. We are on the cusp of an era in which human beings will apply science and technology to the redesign of their own bodies and minds. In this sense, therefore, the actual creations of technoscience today are already exceeding the imaginative reach of the “futuristic” stories we tell ourselves. It is time for mainstream science fiction to take its head out of the sand and face up to the transmogrified future that probably awaits humankind.
September 2008: Conference: Designing Undergraduate Courses that Integrate Nanotechnology and Society There has been tremendous interest in the innovations of nanoscience and technology, and the potential implications for our lives. Thus, nanotechnology can serve as an exciting and integrative academic topic that highlights the interplay of discovery, invention, economics, politics, and commercial applications. The broad scope and direct societal impacts of this theme may be of great interest to a diverse range of students and instructors from a broad range of social science and science disciplines. 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.
Fall 2008 Nano-Meeter: Nanotechnologies and Energy UC Santa Barbara’s Center for Nanotechnology in Society (CNS) and the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) held a community forum to discuss the use energies and nanotechnologies -- specifically, how nanotechnologies may change the way we generate energy, and how innovative technologies may solve global climate change and our dependence on foreign oil. Click here for the event flyer.
Summer 2008 Nano-Meeter: Green Nanotechnologies This community open forum provided an overview and assessment of green nanotechnology, or “Green Nano”: what it is, how it might be used and managed to develop clean technologies, ways to think about both the benefits and risks of such new technologies. Click here for the event flyer.
May 2008: Public Talk: "Where Do Innovations Come From? Lessons for Nanotechnology" Dr. Fred Block, Professor of Sociology, UC Davis Listen to the talk!
April 2008: Nano Days A series of interactive activities and exhibits designed to interest and educate the Santa Barbara community of all ages in the growing fields of nanoscience and nanotechnologies. Read the media advisory here.
February 2008: Public Talk: "The Myth and Reality of China's Science and Technology Development: The Case of Nanotechnology" Dr. Xue Lan, Executive Associate Dean, School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University Download the event flyer here.
February 2008: Public Talk: "Values, Frames and News Coverage: How the Public Forms Opinions About Emerging Technologies" Dr. Dietram Scheufele, Professor of Life Sciences Communication, University of Wisconsin, Madison Listen to the talk! Download the event flyer here .
January 2008: Public Talk: "What's New About Nano? A Seminar to Discuss Science, Technology and Policy" Dr. Sheila Jasanoff, Pforzheimer Professor of Science and Technology Studies, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University Read the announcement here.
November 2007: Nano-Meeter: China's Role in Nanotechnology R&D How innovative is China's science and technology? Will China become a world nanotech player in what is predicted to become a $3 trillion industry? Presentations by Rich Appelbaum, UCSB Program in Global & International Studies and Department of Sociology; and Alec Wodtke, UCSB Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Click here for the event flier.
November 2007: Conference: 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.
November 2007: Public Talk: "Digital Matters: Video Games and the Cultural Transcoding of Nanotechnology" Dr. Colin Milburn, Assistant Professor of English and Science & Technology, UC Davis Download the event flyer here .
Autumn 2007: Nano-Meeter: China's Role in Nanotechnology How innovative is China's science and technology? Will China become a world nanotech player in what is predicted to become a $3 trillion industry? Presentations by Rich Appelbaum, UCSB Program in Global & International Studies and Department of Sociology; and Alec Wodtke, UCSB Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Click here for the event flier.
July 2007: Nano-Meeter: Medical Nanotechnologies Could this new technology revolutionize patient care, diagnosis and treatment? Presentations by Barbara Herr Harthorn, Director of the Center for Nanotechnology in Society; and Patrick Daugherty, UCSB Department of Chemical Engineering Click here for the event flier. Click here for the event handout.
May 2007: Public Talk: "Societal Implications of Nanotechnologies -- And Their Ambivalences" Dr. Arie Rip, Professor of Philosophy of Science and Technology in the School of Management and Governance of the University of Twente, The Netherlands. Click here to download his presentation.
April 2007: Nano-Meeter: Introduction to Nanotechnology Nanotechnology: What is it? How could it change our lives? Will there be any risks?
Presentations by Evelyn Hu, Scientific Director of the California NanoSystems Institute; and Patrick McCray, UCSB Department of History Click here for the event flier.
February 2007: Public Talk: "Nanotechnology and Religion: Ambitions, Influence and Policy" Dr. Jamey Wetmore, Assistant Professor at the Consortium for Science, Policy & Outcomes and the School of Human Evolution & Social Change at Arizona State University
January 2007: Public Talk: "Ethics and Nanotechnology: Mapping the Views of the NNIN Community" Dr. Robert McGinn, Director, Program in Science, Technology & Society and Professor of Management Science & Engineering, Stanford University
November 2006: Press conference and Webcast "ICON Project: Global Survey of Industry Safety Handling Practices of Nano Materials"
May 2006: CNS-UCSB Launch UC Santa Barbara celebrates the launch of CNS-UCSB with public addresses from CNS Director Barbara Herr Harthorn, CNS Co-PI Christopher Newfield, and CNSI Scientific Director Evelyn Hu. Read the press releases here.
|
