New publication: Responsibility in Nanotechnology Development [29.07.2014]

This book, published by Springer in its series 'The International Library of Ethics, Law and Technology', is the outcome of a workshop (Rovigo, Italy, June 21–22, 2011) jointly organized by the Centre for environmental, ethical, legal and social decisions on emerging technology (CIGA) of the University of Padova and ITAS.

Far from being a comprehensive overview of the differentiated concept of responsibility, this book has the more instrumental goal to chart a landscape of issues, areas and perspectives to examine the current and future configurations of the relationship between nanotechnology and responsibility. Three distinct sections reflecting the multiple levels of the relationship between nanotechnology and responsibility guide the reader in the exploration of these changing notions and practices.

The first section, entitled 'Scrutinizing responsibility: theoretical explorations into an entangled concept', addresses the implications of technological visions for responsibility and examines the criteria and principles that can orient the responsible development of nanotechnology.

The second section on 'Responsibility in technology assessment and public engagement' examines the links between the responsible governance of nanotechnology and the practice and mechanisms of technology assessment and public engagement.

The third section on 'Representations and configurations of responsibility' deals with some of the ways in which the issue of responsibility in nanotechnology enters the actual processes of innovation and the social discourses about nanotechnology.

The epilogue of the book is written by Armin Grunwald, ITAS, who examines the Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) approach and traces back its roots in the debate on nanotechnology, linking the discussion on responsibility in nanotechnology development to the broader debate on responsible governance of science, technology and innovation.

Bibliographic reference

Arnaldi, S., Ferrari, A., Magaudda, P., Marin, F. (Eds.):
Responsibility in Nanotechnology Development. Springer 2014, 208 S. (The International Library of Ethics, Law and Technology, 13)