Ethics of the Nanoscale Seminar Series sponsored by NSF, hosted by the Department of Chemical Engineering

Date: Nov. 1
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Place: 238 Broun Hall

Kristen Kulinowski Kristen Kulinowski
Faculty Fellow in the Department of Chemistry at Rice University and Director for External Affairs for the Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology (CBEN)

Dr. Kristen M. Kulinowski is Faculty Fellow in the Department of Chemistry at Rice University and Director for External Affairs for the Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology (CBEN). She currently serves as the Director of the International Council on Nanotechnology (ICON), an international, multi-stakeholder organization whose mission is to develop and communicate information regarding potential environmental and health risks of nanotechnology thereby fostering risk reduction while maximizing societal benefit. She has experience as a chemical researcher, educator, curriculum developer, administrator, outreach coordinator and policy fellow.

Since 2004, Dr. Kulinowski has been actively engaged in developing and promoting the International Council on Nanotechnology (ICON) which provides a neutral forum in which experts from academia, governments, industry and nonprofit organizations can explore questions of nanotechnology's environmental health and safety (EHS). She directed an effort that resulted in the web publication of the first publicly available database of citations to peer-reviewed papers on nano EHS. Other activities of ICON include a survey of best practices for nanomaterial handling in the workplace and a public portal of information on nanotechnology EHS.

Dr. Kulinowski has extensive experience in science education, particularly in developing innovative curricula at the undergraduate level, and developed Rice's first introductory undergraduate course on nanotechnology. From 2002-2004 Dr. Kulinowski served as CBEN Executive Director for Education, developing and managing an educational outreach portfolio of programs for audiences that range from middle school children to adults. During this time the center established itself as a national leader in nanotechnology educational outreach.

Prior to joining CBEN, she was a lecturer in chemistry at Cal Poly (San Luis Obispo) for three years and came to Rice as an instructor in chemistry in 1998. In 2001 she was selected by the Optical Society of America and SPIE-The International Society for Optical Engineering as their Congressional Science Fellow and worked in the D.C. office of Rep. Edward J. Markey on issues including weapons of mass destruction, anti-terrorism legislation and domestic nuclear power security.

Dr. Kulinowski is highly sought after as a speaker and has given invited talks on issues of nanotechnology environmental health and safety and science policy around the world. She has consulted with governments and governmental advisory bodies regarding responsible nanotechnology, and serves as chair of the ASTM International Subcommittee E56.03 on Environment, Health, and Safety. Dr. Kulinowski earned a B.S. in chemistry at Canisius College and M.S. and Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Rochester.

ABSTRACT

Nanotechnology: Managing Potential Risks in a Climate of Uncertainty

The trajectory of nanotechnology research and development is determined not only by the academic and industrial technical communities but also by politicians and policy makers. One issue that is perceived to be a potential roadblock for commercialization of nanotech-enabled products is the concern over potential environmental and health impacts resulting from the production and use of nanomaterials. The political and regulatory landscape of nanotechnology is in constant flux as new information emerges. Can or should nanomaterials be treated any differently than other materials of the same or similar chemical composition? Are existing mechanisms equipped to handle this broad new class of materials? Is new regulation or legislation needed, if only to allay the concerns of the public? This talk will provide a review of the current climate for assessing potential risks of nanomaterials and a description of the International Council on Nanotechnology (ICON), an international, multi-stakeholder organization whose mission is to develop and communicate information regarding potential environmental and health risks of nanotechnology thereby fostering risk reduction while maximizing societal benefit. Governance of the council is shared among representatives from the academic, industrial, governmental and non-governmental (public interest) communities in the US and abroad. ICON projects include a comprehensive database of environmental health and safety literature, a survey of best practices for nanomaterial handling and an expert referral service linking knowledge seekers with experts in the field.