Journal of Business Ethics
Special Issue

Nanotechnology, Ethics and Policy

Nanotechnology involves the manipulation of materials at an atomic level to produce new products and services. Governments and entrepreneurs in many countries have seized nanotechnologies as the next technology-base to offer the potential of great economics and societal benefits. However, the specter of the dark side of nanotechnology is already apparent both in fictional accounts such as the book Predator and in real occurrences such as the death of two workers in a Chinese factory in 2009.

Nanotechnologies are unusual in many ways. They hold the promise of changing many products across a wide range of industries. Both developed economies that have pioneered technological advances over the last century and emerging economies in Asia and South America are racing to master and exploit commercial opportunities associated with nanotechnologies. The de-glamorization of nanotechnologies has resulted in firms eliminating the use of the term nanotechnology from public communications. However, the interest in development and exploitation of these technologies remains just as strong.

While talk has begun in many jurisdictions about regulation and policy to ensure that nanotechnologies are tested, developed and used in an ethical manner, the field is still young and undeveloped. Consequently, a special issue on Nanotechnology, Policy and Ethics is being produced in the Journal of Business Ethics.

The intent is to bridge and develop discussions that are already going on in Universities and Policy Circles through the provision of an open forum - a special issue. This special issue is seen as especially relevant for those in the field of: Ethics, Policy, Entrepreneurship, Emerging Technologies, Economic Development, Materials Science, Environmental Management, and R&D.

This special issue is interested in a wide range of papers including work that provides tools and information to assist policy makers, entrepreneurs, business professionals and technologist in making difficult policy, commercial and technological decisions.  Quantitative, qualitative and case-based research provides the potential for important insights into this field. Consequently, a wide array of approaches to research are welcome as they may assist in the identification of next practices rather than identifying best current practice.

While the focus of this special issue is on Nanotechnologies, papers that consider the broader implications of emerging technologies, perception versus reality, stakeholder concerns, competition between jurisdictions that place economic over ethical considerations, and policy making in the face of uncertainty are welcome as they will not only benefit the ethical questions relating to Nanotechnologies, but technology more broadly.

Submissions are due to the editors on November 1, 2010. A special session(s) of papers will occur at the COMS 2010 Conference in Albuquerque. Papers presented at this conference will be provided feedback to assist in preparing the papers for the special issue. However, participation in the conference is not required for consideration in the special issue.  Additional information on scope and style requirements are available at: http://www.springer.com/philosophy/ethics/journal/10551 Submissions can be made to either of the special issue editors  Dr. Linton or Dr. Walsh.

Key Dates:

April 30, 2010                         Abstract Submission for COMS
August 15, 2010:                    Submission of full papers
November, 2010:                  End of the first review process

Contacts:

Jonathan D. Linton
Power Corporation Professor for the
Management of Technological Enterprises
Telfer School, University of Ottawa
Editor-in-Chief Technovation
Linton@telfer.uottawa.ca

Steven T. Walsh
Black Professor of Entrepreneurship
Anderson Schools of Management
University of New Mexico
walsh@unm.edu