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Abstract:
Think Tank Defines Key Nanotechnology Challenges

Foresight Nanotech Institute Adopts New Mission

Menlo Park, CA | May 23, 2005

Foresight Institute, the original organization in the nanotechnology field, founded in 1986, announced today that it has updated its mission and focus. The organization has also renamed itself Foresight Nanotech Institute to reflect these changes.

"As Foresight approaches its twentieth year, it has largely succeeded in its original mission of educating policy makers, professionals and the general public about the potential of nanotechnology," said Foresight President Scott Mize, "Now that the nanotechnology field is rapidly developing, we have turned our attention towards a new mission: ensuring the beneficial implementation of nanotechnology. We added the word 'nanotech' to our name to clearly communicate our focus to newcomers to the field."

As part of its new mission, Foresight has articulated the six critical challenges that humanity faces which can be addressed by nanotechnology. Foresight believes that investing resources in developing solutions to these challenges will have the largest payoff for humanity.

The Foresight Nanotechnology Challenges are:

Meeting global energy needs with clean solutions
Providing abundant clean water globally
Increasing the health and longevity of human life
Maximizing the productivity of agriculture
Making powerful information technology available everywhere
Enabling the development of space

"The Foresight Nanotechnology Challenges are the key organizing principles for us. We will dedicate our organization to catalyzing and promoting the solutions to these challenges," continued Mize. "In the past, Foresight concentrated primarily on the long-term vision and potential of nanotechnology, while carefully identifying the risks inherent in such a powerful technology. While we will continue this work, we will concentrate more on near- and medium-term applications in the Foresight Nanotechnology Challenge areas, and what can be done today to put us on the pathway to realizing the full potential of nanotechnology.

"This new focus will enable Foresight to create alliances with broader and more diverse groups of stakeholders than ever before to achieve our goals. We welcome all individuals and organizations that want to work with us on the Foresight Nanotechnology Challenges to contact us with their ideas and proposals. We also encourage them to join us in our efforts by becoming members of Foresight."

As part of this new direction, Foresight launched a new Web site today at www.foresight.org/. The non-profit will also expand its current activities of publishing informative web content, books, newsletters, public policy papers, guidelines, news digests; awarding prizes; holding educational and networking events; and educating governments, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, environmental groups, the policy community, professional associations and the general public about the benefits and risks of nanotechnology.

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About Foresight Nanotech Institute:
Foresight Nanotech Institute is the leading think tank and public interest organization focused on nanotechnology. Founded in 1986, our mission is to ensure the beneficial implementation of nanotechnology. Focusing on the six Foresight Nanotechnology Challenges, Foresight provides balanced, accurate and timely information to help society understand nanotechnology through publications, guidelines, public policy activities, prizes, tutorials, conferences, discussion forums and networking events.

For more information about:
Foresight Nanotech Institute
Foresight Nanotechnology Challenges

Foresight Nanotech Institute
PO Box 61058
Palo Alto, CA 94306 USA
tel +1 650 289.0860 x 255
fax +1 650 289.0863
foresight@foresight.org
www.foresight.org

Media Contact:
Judy Conner
650-289-0860 x 255
judy@foresight.org
www.foresight.org

Jackie Flaten
Antenna Group
jacqueline@antennagroup.com415-977-1921

Copyright © Foresight Nanotech Institute

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