Great Lakes Green Chemistry Network Working Group
"TELEPHONE SEMINAR"
GREEN
CHEMISTRY AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
James
E. Hutchison
Department
of Chemistry and Materials Science Institute, University
of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403
"Greener Nanoscience:
A Proactive Approach to Advancing Applications
and Reducing Implications ofNanotechnology"
ABSTRACT Nanotechnology continues to offer new materials and applications that
will
benefit society, yet there is growing concern about the potential health and
environmental
impacts of production and use of nanoscale products. Although hundreds of
studies of
nanomaterial hazards have been reported, due (largely) to the complexity of the
nanomaterials,
there is no consensus about the impact these hazards will have. This Focus
describes the need
for a research agenda that addresses these nanomaterial complexities through
coordinated
research on the applications and implications of new materials, wherein
nanomaterials scientists
play a central role as we move from understanding to minimizing nanomaterial
hazards. Greener
nanoscience is presented as an approach to determining and implementing the
design rules for
safer nanomaterials and safer, more efficient processes.
Full article available at the Great
Lakes Green Chemistry Network working group website: http://groups.google.com/group/greatlakesgreenchem
as "Hutchinson_nanotechnology1.pdf"
University
of Oregon professor Jim
Hutchinson says that now is the time for scientists to “seriously
consider the design of materials, processes and applications that minimize
hazard and waste, and this will be essential as nanoscience discoveries
transition to the products of nanotechnology.”
Hutchison is a leading U.S.
innovator in nanofabrication and assembly processes and is a pioneer in the use
of green chemistry, which he also teaches to other scientists around the
country at workshops. He also is the leader of the Safer Nanomaterials and
Nanomanufacturing Initiative, which is funded by an Air Force Research
Laboratory grant to the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute.
Green chemistry, he argues, can sharply reduce the use of toxic solvents and
produce safer products with reduced chances for unintended consequences. It
also can provide opportunity for new innovations.
“Green chemistry allows us to think about new space and new
parameters,” Hutchison said. “We have the opportunity to develop
the technology correctly from the beginning, rather than trying to rework and
entrenched technology.”
Join us for our call on
THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 2008
3:30 PM EASTERN
2:30 PM Central
12:30 PM Pacific
US and Canada
dial :
1 866 368 6248
participant code 5470083 #
Please RSVP by replying to this email
Lin Kaatz Chary
Ad Hoc Coordinator
GL Green Chemistry Network Working Group
lchary@sbcglobal.net
(219) 938-0209