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Abstract:
And I International Seminar on Nanotechnology and the Labour Force

III International Seminar on Nanotechnology, Society and the Environment

Posted on November 1, 2006

The scientific and technologic development recently brought about the emergence of nanotechnology, appointed today as the main propelling force of the 5th Industrial Revolution. Yet, what does one know about this technological innovation? Very little is said to the public in general about the effects caused by the insertion of this new technology in society. The effects of nanotechnology or its impacts change society, the inter-relations between the economic and social agents, the labour world in terms of work posts and labour force qualification, modify the economic interests, the public policies, the dispositions that shape the commercial agreements, the course of scientific research and, in general it is possible to affirm that it modifies the environment in which we live.

The development and refinement of nanotechnology has changed the reality of the production means and of the market dynamics, basically because it deeply modifies the use and performance of the materials involved in the nanoscale production and the qualification of the labour force involved in this production process.

One speculates about the effects of nanoscience when applied to the production of goods, about the susceptible changes in the environment - natural and constructed - and in the labour world, but what do specialists in the subject think about this? What do they have to say to other specialists and to the lay public? What does the lay public understand about nanoscience and nanotechnology? What do workers organized in their unions have to say to the other social segments involved in this theme? Does the exchange of knowledge between these social actors meet the needs of society, of the specialists in the subject, of the labour force organized in unions, of the companies that invest large sums in technological innovations and of the public gestors?

The work proposition of the III International Seminar on Nanotechnology, Society and the Environment and of the I International Seminar on Nanotechnology and the Labour Force is to disclose among the public, whether specialized or lay, considerations on the social, economic, environmental, ethical impacts released by the emergence of nanotechnology, while maintaining the need for deepening the knowledgte on the proposed theme and for the dialogue which may, and should, be developed among the social actors involved in matters related to the nucleus of nanoscience and of nanotechnology.

This approach of the theme through the eyes of the Social Sciences, which has materialized in a Research Net in Nanotechnology, Society and the Enviornment - RENANOSOMA, has the intention to contribute towards nanotechnology becoming an object of reflection of the Social Sciences and towards the limit of the discussion on the course this technology will take in Brazil going beyond the scientists´ and technologist´s environments. The fact that the I International Seminar on Nanotechnology and the labour Force is to take place integrated with the III International Seminar on Nanotechnology, Society and the Envirorment is a good indication of the first materialization of this goal.

III Seminar on Nanotechnology, Society and the Environment

November 6 to 9, 2006

From: 8.30 am to 5.00 pm

The III Seminar on Nanotechnology, Society and the Environment will be transmitted, on a trial basis, via the IPT site. You may access it at www.ipt.br/tv

In order to access the transmission it is necessary to have the RealPlayer program installed and this may be downloaded from www.real.com.

During the transmission of the event, it will be possible to send questions via Internet to the Head Table of the Debate. Visit www.ipt.br/atividades/servicos/chat/, or, enter IPT´s site (www.ipt.br) and select BATE-PAPO, sending your questions, which will be selected and answered by the lecturers during the debate.

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Contact:
Paulo Martins
marpaulo@ipt.br

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