Nanotechnology field observations: scouting the new industrial west

Public awareness and governmental involvement in overseeing the responsible development of nanotechnologies is lagging far behind the rapid pace of nanotechnology development and commercialization. Numerous products containing nanomaterials are already on the market and many more complex products are sure to follow. This paper highlights some of the recent work conducted by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, a partnership between the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and The Pew Charitable Trusts. The paper summarizes the Project's research and findings regarding nanotech oversight, public awareness and attitudes, and work to develop a more strategic approach to addressing the potential risks associated with nanotech-based materials and products. We present these observations as a set of field notes from the rapidly changing “nanofrontier.”