New fund to study environmental implications of Nanotechnology

21 September 2008

National Science Foundation (NSF) has recently provided fund to a consortium for studying the environmental implications of nanotechnology. The initial amount awarded is $14 million to be spent over the period of next five years, which can further be renewed for next five years. Researchers from Virginia Tech and other four principal universities and five schools will work together for this project.

Although nanoparticles are being used in every field including medicine, space, electronics, computer, cosmetics etc., however the environmental implications of these nanoparticles are not known. The National Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (CEIN) will take the expertise researchers from various field including geochemistry, nanochemistry, environmental chemistry, social science, ecology and cell and molecular biology.

The major universities and schools involved in the study includes Virginia Tech, Duke, Carnegie Mellon, Howard, Kentucky, Stanford, UCLA and UC Santa Barbara. Researchers will develop a risk assessment model and the results obtained will help in making a policy.

As part of the program, Virginia Tech will offer fellowship to graduate and undergraduate students, grants to undergraduate students, internship and will organize seminars etc. CEIN will also help in recruitment process and will develop right educational tool especially for high school teachers and will also focus on many other learning venues. The CEIN will also ensure regular dialog with government agencies including policy maker and industries engaged in nanotechnology applications.

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