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
EU Study Tackles Nanotoxicology Dilemma -- European Commission Research Information Centre (7/3/2009)A new project funded under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Program (FP7) will create a critical and commented database on the health, safety and environmental impact of nanoparticles. [More]
Nanotechnology: The Things We Don't Know -- Nanowerk (7/3/2009)The article says that a group of researchers at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) are making progress at identifying the gaps - or "known unknowns" - in our knowledge of the environmental, health and safety (EHS) impacts of nanomaterials. [More]
Title: Scientists Urge Transparency in Nanotech Safety Testing -- Food Production Daily (5/12/2006)This article says that the UK'S Royal Society is asking companies that are developing products containing nanoparticles to disclose their safety testing methods. [More]
"Cloaked" Carbon Nanotubes Become Non-Toxic -- New Scientist (5/15/2006)Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley in the U.S. have developed synthetic polymers that, when used to coat carbon nanotubes, prevented the nanotubes from damaging lab-grown cells. [More]
Smell of Success for Nanobiosensors -- Information Society Technologies (5/15/2006)Researchers from Spain, France, and Italy are developing "electronic nose" sensors based on natural olfactory receptors for use in healthcare, agriculture, environmental protection, and security. [More]
Nanogen Announces Type II Diabetes Research Collaboration -- PR Newswire (5/15/2006)U.S.-based Nanogen, Inc., an advanced diagnostic products developer, has entered a collaboration agreement with Finnish genomics company Jurilab, Ltd. to identify prognostic markers for type II diabetes. [More]
Title: Dutch Consortium Could Yield Controlled Release Technology -- Food Navigator (5/16/2006)A Dutch public-private partnership called the BioMedical Materials Program (BMM) is researching capsule technology for controlled release of active substances to improve medical care. [More]
Title: Pesticides: Firms Making Nanoengineered Pesticides Urged to Meet with EPA Staff on Data Needs -- Daily Environment Report (5/16/2006)John Dubeck, an attorney with multinational law firm Keller and Heckman, said that companies developing nanotechnology applications for pesticides should meet with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) staff to identify types of data that will be required by the agency once it accumulates sufficient information to develop regulations. [More]
Title: Global Market for Nanotechnology in Environmental Applications Worth $6.1 Billion by 2010 -- BCC Research (5/16/2006)A new market research report entitled Nanotechnology in Environmental Applications from U.S.-based BCC Research predicts that the total market for nanotechnology-based environmental applications will reach US$6.1 billion by 2010, achieving an average annual growth rate of 75.2 percent. [More]