WASHINGTON, D.C.--Fourteen top international scientists in the field of nanotechnology have identified Five Grand Challenges for nanotechnology risk research that must be met if the technology is to reach its full potential. Their findings are the subject of a major paper published in the November 16th issue of the journal Nature.

The paper's lead author is Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies Chief Science Advisor Andrew Maynard. Co-authors (list attached) are among the world's foremost nanotechnology risk and applications researchers from universities, government, and industry in the United States and Europe.

Three of the paper's authors--Dr. Maynard, Dr. Martin A. Philbert of the University of Michigan School of Public Health, and Dr. Sally Tinkle of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences--will discuss their recommendations at a program and live webcast on Thursday, November 16th at 9:00 a.m. in the 5th Floor Conference Room of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (www.wilsoncenter.org/directions).

Dr. Maynard formerly served at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where he was instrumental in developing NIOSH's nanotechnology research program. He also was a member of the U.S. government's Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology (NSET) subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council, and co-chaired the Nanotechnology Health and Environmental Implications (NEHI) working group of NSET.

Dr. Philbert is professor of toxicology and senior associate dean for research, School of Public Health, University of Michigan (Ann Arbor). His research includes the development of nanotechnology for intracellular measurement of biochemicals and ions, and for the early detection of brain tumors.

Dr. Tinkle is assistant to the deputy dire
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Contact: Sharon McCarter
sharon.mccarter@wilsoncenter.org
202-691-4016
Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies
15-Nov-2006