DHS, CDC, Private Sector Pandemic Influenza Planning
Open Source Models of Collaborative Innovation in the Life Sciences
2004 Bellagio Meeting on Plant Genetic Resources in East and Central Africa
Everglades Adaptive Management Strategy
Joint Ocean Commission Initiative
Public Intellectual Property Resource for Agriculture [PIPRA]
Yale Climate Change Conference
International Workshop on Nanotechnology, Commodities, and Development
Quick Reference Guide to Meridian Institute and Our Nanotechnology Experience
Nanotechnology and Development News Information Flyer
Global Dialogue on Nanotechnology and the Poor: Opportunities and Risks
Meridian Institute, with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, International Development Research Centre, and UK Department for International Development, has convened the Global Dialogue on Nanotechnology and the Poor: Opportunities and Risks (GNDP). Goals of the GDNP include: raising awareness about the implications of nanotechnology for the poor; closing the gaps within and between sectors of society to catalyze actions that address specific opportunities and risks; and, identifying ways that science and technology can play an appropriate role in the development process. [More]
International Dialogue on Responsible Research and Development of Nanotechnology
Meridian Institute facilitated the 2004 (USA) and 2006 (Japan) meetings of the International Dialogue on Responsible Research and Development. These meetings, each involving representatives from more than 25 countries and the European Union, focused on how to best ensure nanotechnology research and development programs are carried out in a responsible manner. Summaries of the meetings are available. The 2004 meeting summary includes the results of a questionnaire submitted by participants that describe the goals and status of more than 20 national nanotechnology initiatives. [More]
Dialogue Series on Nanotechnology and Federal Regulation
As nanotechnology moves from the research lab into commercial production and markets, potential regulatory issues may emerge, ranging from worker protection to environmental exposure and risks. To address these issues, Meridian Institute and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (WWICS) co-convened a series of three dialogue sessions focused on the relationship between nanotechnology and federal regulation in the United States. [More]
International Council on Nanotechnology Inaugural Meeting
Meridian Institute facilitated the first meeting of the International Council on Nanotechnology (ICON) at Rice University in Houston, Texas. ICON’s mission is to assess, communicate, and reduce the environmental and health risks of nanotechnology. It is a multi-stakeholder group dedicated to research, policy, and communication regarding nanotechnology’s impacts on human health and the environment. [More]
US EPA Interim Ad Hoc Work Group on Nanoscale Materials
Meridian staff facilitated an Interim Ad Hoc Work Group on Nanoscale Materials, which was convened by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).The Work Group discussed potential elements for a voluntary program regarding engineered nanoscale materials, began consideration of regulatory actions US EPA could undertake, and identified issues that needed further consideration. The Work Group submitted it for EPA's consideration in November 2005. [More]
IRGC Workshop on Risk Governance for Nanotechnology
On January 30-31, 2006 Meridian Institute assisted the International Risk Governance Council (IRGC) with the design of workshop objectives and agenda and served as facilitator for a Workshop on Risk Governance for Nanotechnology at the SwissRe Global Dialogue Centre in Zurich, Switzerland. The workshop was attended by 30 thought leaders with diverse perspectives from different parts of the world and organizational settings. [More]
Pew Charitable Trusts and Woodrow Wilson Center Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies NanoFrontiers Workshop
The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies is a partnership between the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and the Pew Charitable Trusts, dedicated to helping ensure that as nanotechnologies advance, possible risks are minimized, public and consumer engagement remains strong, and the potential benefits of these new technologies are realized [More]
Rockefeller Foundation Meetings on Nanotechnology
Meridian Institute organized and facilitated two meetings at the request of The Rockefeller Foundation. These were small informational meetings about nanotechnology for the senior leadership of the Foundation, including former President Gordon Conway and the Directors of the Global Inclusion, Food Security, and Health Equity Programs. [More]
Presentations & Conferences
To contribute to the goals of our nanotechnology projects, Meridian Institute has participated in and presented at the following events:
The Rockefeller Foundation, Senior Leadership Meetings (October 2003, USA)
SwissRe, Conference on Nanotechnology (January 2005, Switzerland)
ICS-UNIDO, North-South Dialogue on Nanotechnology (February 2005, Italy)
Foresight Institute, 13th Annual Conference (October 2005, USA)
Canadian Federal Nanotechnology Network (October 2005, Canada)
International Risk Governance Council, Nanotechnology Project Meeting (July 2006, Switzerland)
Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, GreenNano Series (various events in 2005 and 2006, USA)
Information & Resources
Meridian Institute offers the following resources to help people make informed decisions:
Nanotechnology and Development News
Paper on Nanotechnology, Water, and Development
Nanotechnology and Development News Water Compilation
Online Consultation for the Global Dialogue on Nanotechnology and the Poor: Opportunities and Risks
Finland and China to Cooperate on Nanotechnology Research -- Cordis (4/12/2007)Finland and China have formed a cooperative program for nanotechnology research and development to advance the exchange of knowledge, resources, and people between China and the EU. [More]
Civil Society-Labor Coalition Rejects Fundamentally Flawed DuPont-ED Proposed Framework -- ETC Group (4/12/2007)A coalition of civil society and labor organizations has issued an open letter to the "international nanotechnology community at large" rejecting the voluntary <a href="http://www.merid.org/NDN/display.php?ArticleID=896">Nano-Risk Framework</a> developed by DuPont and U.S.-based environmental organization Environmental Defense (ED) as "fundamentally flawed," saying, "We strongly object to any process in which broad public participation in government oversight of nanotech policy is usurped by industry and its allies". [More]
Gelatin-Based Nanoparticle Effective in Gene Therapy for Breast Cancer -- Newswise (4/13/2007)Researchers from Northeastern University in the U.S. report researching findings indicating that engineered gelatin-based nanoparticles can safely and effectively deliver therapeutic genes to inhibit the growth of human breast cancer tumors implanted in mice. [More]
Work on Tech Industries, Rafidah Tells Malaysian and US Firms -- Bernama (4/13/2007)According to this article, Malaysia's International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz has said that "the Malaysian workforce has acquired skills and knowledge to move up the value chain, thus laying the foundation for growth and development of skills and knowledge-based industries," and that Malaysian and U.S. companies can work synergistically together in emerging high-tech fields such as nanotechnology, micro-electromechanical systems, wireless technology, photonics, and alternative sources of energy. [More]
Nanotechnology Boosts the Performance of a New Marine Teak Coating -- Nanotechwire.com (4/17/2007)Australian company Nanovations has released a new product called Teak Guard Marine, a coating that contains active nanoscale ingredients that penetrate deep into the grain of teak wood to protect against harsh solar radiation and to enhance the wood's natural and enduring water resistance, strength, and finish. [More]
Belarussion and Indian Scientists Devise New Carbon Nanotube Production Technology -- AZoNano.com (4/17/2007)Researchers from the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and their counterparts from India have developed a new technology for lower cost production of carbon nanotubes. [More]
Polymeric Nanoparticle-Encapsulated Curcumin (Nanocurcumin): A Novel Strategy for Human Cancer Therapy -- Journal of Nanobiotechnology (4/17/2007)Researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the U.S. and the University of Delhi in India report the findings of a study in which nano-encapsulated curcumin, a yellow pigment with strong anti-cancer properties extracted from turmeric, demonstrated therapeutic effects on human pancreatic cancer cells in vitro. [More]
Examine How Nanotechnology is Set to Completely Revolutionise the Apparel Sector -- Nanotechology-Now (4/18/2007)Market research company Research and Markets has released a new market report entitled "Nanotechnology and the Apparel Industry," which addresses potential applications of nanotechnology to garments and the potential effects of those applications on markets for apparel. [More]
Gold Nanoparticle Catalyst Reduces Diesel Emissions -- Nanowerk (4/18/2007)Nanostellar, a U.S. company that develops engineered nanomaterials for emissions control, has released Nanostellar's NS Gold™, a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) made with a tri-metal formulation of gold, platinum, and palladium that has been shown in independent tests to provide greater catalytic activity at equal precious-metal cost than pure-platinum and platinum-palladium catalysts. [More]