Transcript Final published version

Ethics and nanotechnology
– aspects of democracy,
legitimacy
and sustainable development
Farm Inn, 26 Nov 2009
Michael Søgaard Jørgensen
The Science Shop
c/o DTU Management
Technical University of Denmark
2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
[email protected]
Agenda
• Nanoethics => nanogovernance
• The nanochallenge
• A model for governance of
nanotechnology
– Deconstructing visions
– Systems perspective on nanotechnologies
– Life cycle assessment of nanotechnologies
• Organising nanogovernance
From nanoethics to nanogovernance
• Ethics is about what is right and wrong
• Ethics is about how we find out what is right and
wrong
• Today ’governance’ is often used about how
issues are managed in a society
• Ethical discussions tend to become about
personal commitment and blaming
• ….but the relation between technology and
society is much more complex than that
 Nanogovernance
The nanochallenge!
• Technologies are shaped – not given from
nature
– We participate as researchers in the shaping
• Co-shaping of technology and society
– Technologies are not good or bad: which societal
needs are addressed how
• Nanotechnologies are not smart and green
– Risks and potentials – shaped and assessed in a life
cycle perspective
4
Many societal areas addressed
with nanotechnologies
A. Nanotechnologies are enabling technologies
=> claimed to be useful in almost all areas
of the society
=> challenging many social areas
B. Research and development of
nanotechnologies is a highly competitive area
=> big funds to compete for
C. Increased focus of universities on spin-off
companies, patents etc.
=> confidentiality maybe a hindrance to
public insight and scrutiny into the research
Hypes and hopes
• Nanoresearchers may feel they have to promise
fast societal benefits from the research
(Norwegian Research Council)
Hope => hype?
• Some nanoresearchers afraid of public dialogue
…..Others interested
…..To avoid the same critique as with genetic
modification in food and agriculture
Co-shaping of technology and
society (1)
• Few would probably disagree in the
development and use of new systems of small
sensors combining ICT and nanotechnology
• However....
– NGO’s and researchers would object if the sensors
are used to change focus away from pro-active
prevention of pollution at the source to clean-up when
sensors report problems
• If we should believe nanosensors should solve
the pollution problem....
– ...the lack of data should have been the reason for
previous pollution.....
Co-shaping of technology and
society (2)
Not a linear development from need to
research to innovation to application
Not good or bad properties of technologies
per se
What agenda(s) are built around a
technology by who?
Case: Changing agendas about
genetic modified plants
• GM-researchers and companies pointed to
pesticide resistant plants as
– ‘An efficient agricultural strategy’
• NGOs pointed to
– the risk of getting locked into a pesticide-dependent
track
– the risk of transfer of genetic material coding for
pesticide resistance to other related plants
– organic farming and its principles of controlling weeds
• Industry called GM ‘an environmental strategy’
– Using less pesticides
• Practice: Some farmers use more pesticides with
GMO-plants
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Some environmental potentials and
risks related to nanotechnology
Environmental
potentials related to
nanotechnology
Environmental and
health risks related
to nanotechnology
Chemical synthesis can take
place at “normal” pressure and
temperature
Hazardous solvents used in the
manufacturing of C60
molecules
Non-toxic catalysts
Most nano-particles are not
biodegradable
Nano-scale design of materials
can increase speed and
efficiency of processes
Nano-tubes have the same
material characteristics as
asbestos fibres
The “nanochallenge” in short
The interests and the uncertainties are big
 Need for focus on robust development with focus
on democracy and legitimacy (Gibbons et al)
 Avoid wasting money on solving (non-)-problems
in un-sustainable ways – and thereby take away
the focus from other and more legitimate
problems and solutions
Avoid solving problems in a non-sustainable way
A governance model based on
integrated design
1) (De)construction of scripts and scenarios in
research and development
2) Systems approach to nanotechnology
3) Environmental assessments based on
dialogue and life cycle perspective
•
•
•
of visions about nanotechnologies
of design processes
of practice applying nanotechnologies
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(1) Deconstruction of scripts and
scenarios in R&D visions
• A starting point in the problems, which a certain
nanotechnology (area) - according to the
researchers and/or designers - is supposed to
solve.
• The overall questions to ask:
– By whom are the addressed problems recognised as
problems?
– By whom is the suggested technological change
recognised as an acceptable solution?
OILFRESH (1)
• Problems addressed
– French fries too fat
– Heating too long
– Oil disposal frequency
• Product
The OilFresh device is already in use in a
number of individual restaurants.
Future clients: large fast-food chains
such as KFC, McDonald’s, and Burger
King.
• Advantages
– Cut oil cost to half
– Reduces cooking time & temperature
– Gives healthier & better tasting fries
OILFRESH (2)
• The OilFresh catalyst system is based on nanoparticle
technology.
• Nanoceramic catalytic pellets are fused together to create a
huge surface area on the catalyst surface.
• Extends the fry life of oils by reducing oxidative degradation
Students at
Nanotechnology
and society
course, DTU,
Jan 2008
Sociology of technology:
Script and description
• Script: A kind of knowledge claim that lays out a
program of action ’the designer’ (un-)consciously
assume will be followed
– A manuscript for the role of the technology
• De-scription: the accept / resistance / modification
of the inscribed to the script
– Is nano frying oil used for promoting healthy fried
food?
– Can consumers manage not to eat more fried food?
Sociology of technology:
Enrollment and translation
• How actors enroll other actors or nonhumans into postions that suit their
purposes
• How problems are translated to enable a
solution with a certain technology
– Fight bacterial problems with nano silver
– Fight obesity with nano enhanced frying oil
Should we fight bacteria?
“The Silver Nano Health System is a
comprehensive system developed by
Samsung to improve your quality of life by
eliminating bacteria from the places that
count most.....Just as a dirty washer never
truly cleans clothes… Samsung has found
a solution in the safety of silver, ionizing
silver into ions for an effective coating that
lets your home appliances remain
remarkably free of bacteria and odors. ”
Actor-networks around nanosilver (I)
• Who are the humans and non-humans which
Samsung tries to enroll in a network around
nano-silver on household equipment?
– Bacteria that are harmful
– Silver that can protect
– Consumers / families that are concerned
• But nanosilver is not killing all bacteria
• Focus is taken away from why we have
pathogene bacteria where
Actor-networks around nanosilver (II)
• Governmental authorities and researchers are
concerned about
– Harming the waste water treatment facilities
– Creating silver-resistant bacteria => reduce/prevent
the use of silver as a anti-microbial agent in the
prevention of infections in serious burn-wounds
• Swedish governmental institutions are no longer
allowed to buy nano-silver products
• Samsung has had to redraw at least one of their
products from a country
Actor-networks around nanosilver (III)
• Technology push from nanotechnology
companies – sometimes without
knowledge about the product fields they
want to sell to
• Technology pull from lowtech companies –
e.g. within textiles - without knowledge
about the nanotechnology and its working
principles
To make a technology ’work’ in a
robust way
• Technological innovations must be supported by
a corresponding evolution of social and
institutional support and control
– To avoid a widespread use of nanosilver
– To avoid that fast food chains use a product like
Oilfresh to promote ’healthy fried food’ => a higher
consumption of fried food
• Who should take of these uncertainties and
when?
• What (manu)scripts are we as researchers part
of (writing)?
Governance model (2): Systems’
approach to nanotechnology
• Should ensure that focus is
– not only on single properties or features,
• for example the tiny dimensions of a nanotechnology,
– but the whole system, which a nanotechnology or a
nanotechnology-based product is part of
• Including the need for supporting infrastructures
like quality standards, waste (water)
management systems etc.
– E.g. facilities to treat the waste water from households
having nano silver products
Governance model (3): Env.
assessment based on dialogue
and life cycle perspective
• A life cycle approach...
– where not only the use of the technology, but also the
manufacturing of it, the use and in the post-use phase
are described and assessed.
• At the research and innovation stages
– A life-cycle screening of possible future applications,
– Based on the MECO-concept (Materials, Energy,
Chemicals, Others (Occupational Health and Safety
etc.))
– Dialogue about ‘relevant’ environmental aspects and
the possibilities for prevention
The principle behind a life cycle
inventory of a product
• The interaction between
– Product
– Actors
– Systems/infrastructures/other products
….in the different links of the life cycle/product
chain
• Follow the product through the possible,
intended or actual life cycles
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Nanospeed badminton racket in
life cycle perspective
Nanospeed
racket
Materials
Energy
Raw materials
Production
Fossil fuels
Vacuum pump
Waste resin
Melting and
curing
Chemicals
Chlorinated and
other solvents
Other aspects,
including
occupational
health and
safety
Use
Disposal
Nanoparticles
released from
waste?
Occupational
handling of
nanoparticles
Materials, Energy, Chemicals and Others matrix for the different
life cycle stages of a “nanospeed” badminton racket.
Motor oil with nanoparticles in
life cycle perspective
Oil lubricant
Raw materials Production
Materials
Fossil fuels
Energy
Electricity
Disposal
Improved
lubrication?
Chemicals
Other aspects,
including
occupational
health and
safety
Use
Release of
nanoparticles?
Nanoparticles
released from
waste?
Occupational
handling of
nanoparticles
The Materials, Energy, Chemicals and Others matrix for the different life cycle
stages of a motor oil.
Environmental potential from a
nanotechnology-based product!?
Steinfelt et al 2004: Globalwarming potential (kg CO2-equivalents per
m2 coated surface
(Steinfeldt et al.,
2004)
CC = Car Coating
Risk = hazard + exposure
•The properties making nanomaterials attractive, may be those that also make
them hazardous:
• High reactivity => highly reactive in the body
• Organic solvents dissolve fat and dirt => damage the brain
Use/process (frequency, duration,
amount)
Source: Poul Bo Larsen
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Typology of
nanomaterials
(Hansen et al 2007)
A general model for qualitative
assessment of work environment
Assessment of:
• The health impact from the chemical, material
etc.
• The level of exposure (how closed is the system,
how much handling of the material, exposure
during cleaning, accident etc.)
• The duration of exposure (everyday, often,
seldom etc.)
• Description and maybe qualitative scores (1-3)
=> scores 1 - 27
A general model for qualitative
assessment of environment
Assessment of:
• The environmental impact from the chemical,
material etc.
• The level of disemination (how widespread use
of the product, how closed is the system,
exposure during cleaning, accident etc.)
• The level of exposure (everyday, often, seldom
etc.)
• Description and maybe qualitative scores (1-3)
=> scores 1 - 27
Reactions in lung alveoles from
particles and nanoparticles
Fine particles
Bigger particles
easier digested
by macrophages
Ultrafine particles < 0.1. nm
Nanoparticles
released into
the blood
Nano particles, environment and health. From Ecological Council (in
Danish)
Environmental strategies
•
•
•
•
Dilution
End-of-pipe
Cleaner technology
Cleaner products
Source reduction: Nanoparticles (1)
Product focus: inherently dispersive
• Surface modification: hydrophilic coating
reduces inflammatory responses
• Quantum dots: coating of CdSe dots with
ZnS or organic compounds reduces
cytotoxicity
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Source reduction: Nanoparticles (2)
Product focus: not inherently dispersive:
• What happens during cleaning, wear, tear and
corrosion
• Release as original nanoparticles?
• Release as larger aggregates?
• No comparative studies with non-nano products
• Experience with material design preventing
nanoparticle release could be useful
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Need for democratic governance
• Strategies for how and when different
actor groups are given a voice in relation
to science and technology and how
decisions are made on issues of public
concern:
Inclusiveness, democratic control,
discursive quality
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Aspects of governance
•
Openness vs. relevance of dialogue
– How open is the agenda setting
– How much is the dialogue related to
relevant decisions
•
•
Inclusion vs. exclusion – of aspects and
actors
Legitimacy
– of the problems addressed by
nanotechnology
– of the solutions offered by nanotechnology
– of other solutions to the problem
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:
Case: NanoCap (“Nanotechnology
Capacity Building NGOs”)
• Deepen the understanding of environmental,
occupational health and safety risks and ethical
aspects of nanotechnology
• A structured discussion is organised between
environmental NGOs, trade unions, academic
researchers and other stakeholders
• www.nanocap.eu
• Earlier project: Nanologue.net
Governance as an ongoing process
• Governance activities may have different types
of results:
– Increasing knowledge of the CSO and/or the
scientists (for example about technology, social
impact or policy strategies),
– Developing new network relations between CSOs
and researchers
– Developing actions, like
• (re)framing a discourse,
• social mobilisation
• getting influence on a research strategy
Room for democracy & legitimacy?
• Are researchers willing to engage in
dialogue about the legitimacy of the
problems and the sustainability of the
solutions they are researching?
• Are governments willing to discuss
research strategies with civil society
organisations with focus on problems and
not on specific technical solutions?