About Mike Treder Expertise My specialty is the societal and environmental implications of advanced nanotechnology. I can help people to better understand the implications of molecular manufacturing -- building products "from the bottom up," and to focus on the real risks and benefits of the technology.
Experience I am a professional writer, speaker, and activist with a background in technology and communications company management. In 2002, I co-founded the Center for Responsible Nanotechnology (CRN), a non-profit think tank. CRN promotes public awareness and education, and the crafting of effective policy to maximize benefits and reduce dangers. I am the executive director of CRN.
Organizations - Research Fellow, Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies
- Advisory Board, Global Risks Council
- Consultant, Future Technologies Advisory Group
- Editorial Advisory Board, Nanotech Briefs
- Consultant, AC/UNU Millennium Project
Publications The Futurist (magazine)
The Scientific Conquest of Death (book chapter)
Future Brief (online journal)
Expert: Mike Treder Date: 12/30/2005 Subject: nanotech
Question what does nanotechnology exactly deal with?
what subject does nanotech involve?
Answer Nanotechnology is the engineering of tiny machines — the projected ability to manufacture components, devices, and complete products from the bottom up, using techniques and tools being developed today to place every atom and molecule in a desired place.
Based on Richard Feynman's vision of miniature factories using nanomachines to build complex products, nanotechnology (sometimes referred to as molecular manufacturing) will make use of positionally-controlled mechanosynthesis guided by molecular machine systems. Its most well-known exposition is in the books of K. Eric Drexler. Formulating a roadmap for its development is now an objective of a broadly based technology roadmap project led by Battelle (the manager of several U.S. National Laboratories) and the Foresight Institute.
Shortly after this envisioned molecular machinery is created, it will result in a manufacturing revolution, probably causing severe disruption. It also has serious economic, social, environmental, and military implications. Like electricity or computers before it, nanotech will offer greatly improved efficiency in almost every facet of life. But as a general-purpose technology, it will be dual-use, meaning it will have many commercial uses and it also will have many military uses — making far more powerful weapons and tools of surveillance. Thus it represents not only wonderful benefits for humanity, but also grave risks.
