NANOTECHNOLOGY AND GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY

Donnie Maclurcan is an Honorary Research Fellow with the Institute for Nanoscale Technology at the University of Technology, Sydney. His PhD has been one of the world's first assessments of nanotechnology's consequences for global equality and has led to numerous publications, including translations into Mandarin and Persian. Donnie is presently chair of the International Free and Open Source Software Foundation, is Co-Producer of the forthcoming documentary: Hooked on Growth and hopes to quietly help inspire a creative transition to truly sustainable societies, where people think critically, act collectively and live considerately.

A comprehensive introduction to nanotechnology and its potential global implications, this book critiques the latest developments relating to the environment, health, water and food, as well as potential implications for global trade, labor and marginalized populations. It presents ideas for improving technological appropriateness, including transitioning to new methods of knowledge assessment and co-creation, novel approaches to innovation that truly engage 'the poor', multilateral regulatory mechanisms that serve wider interests, and ways to overcome the global dilemma of knowledge commodification resulting from intellectual property rights regimes.

Nanotechnology and the world at a crossroads. Nano-Geopolitics: There's plenty of room at the top. Nanotechnology and the global economy. Nanotechnology and the environment. Nanotechnology and health. Nanotechnology and water. Nanotechnology and food. Nanotechnology and trade. Nanotechnology and labour. Nanotechnology and inclusion. Beyond nanotechnology's crisis Considering multiple futures. Ensuring appropriateness: Towards pro-poor nano-innovation. Open source appropriate nanotechnology. Local opportunities: 'Poor man's nanotechnology’. National opportunities: Towards appropriate nanotechnology regulation. International opportunities: Governing nanotechnology for the greater good. Nanotechnology as if the world mattered.