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Nanotechnologies Concepts and Applications KI-NA-24957-EN-C This compendium has been specifically developed to provide the educational communities with relevant, accurate and updated materials to inform, motivate and inspire young people to know more about nanosciences and nanotechnologies concepts and applications. It has been developed within the context NANOTECHNOLOGIES of the European research project Nanoyou, and it NANOTECHNOLOGIES has been enriched by the authors with numerous and multifaceted inputs, reflections and insights on societal issues, also provided by the European project TimeforNano. The outcomes from all these efforts Principles, Applications, have been integrated into a comprehensive and fully referenced book to present a single, balanced Implications and compendium about these disciplines. Theory, – application, experiments and discussion on the Principles, Applications, Implications and ethical, societal and safety aspects are organised in Hands-on Activities self-contained modules that offer increased flexibility throughout the development of the course. Also, a case study approach provides educators and teachers A compendium for educators with practical applications and examples to discuss in class, supported by online tutor web portals to enable participating in virtual dialogues, experiments and games. The lessons, discussions on applications and hands-on experiments presented in this book have been tested and enriched from 2010 to 2011 by hundreds of teachers, professors and educators from about one thousand schools in 20 countries in Europe and beyond, involving about 40.000 students. This stimulating, challenging and enriching experience enabled us to produce the far-reaching, broad- Hands-on Activities ranging and inclusive book you have in your hands. Studies and reports Research and EUR 24957 doi:10.2777/76945 Innovation How to obtain EU publications Free publications: • via EU Bookshop (http://bookshop.europa.eu); • at the European Union’s representations or delegations. You can obtain their contact details on the Internet (http://ec.europa.eu) or by sending a fax to +352 2929-42758. Priced publications: • via EU Bookshop (http://bookshop.europa.eu). Priced subscriptions (e.g. annual series of the Official Journal of the European Union and reports of cases before the Court of Justice of the European Union): • via one of the sales agents of the Publications Office of the European Union (http://publications.europa.eu/others/agents/index_en.htm). EUROPEAN COMMISSION Directorate-General for Research and Innovation Industrial technologies (NMP) Unit G.4 — Nano Sciences and Nano Technologies E-mail: [email protected] Contact: Matteo Bonazzi European Commission B-1049 Brussels EUROPEAN COMMISSION NANOTECHNOLOGIES: Principles, Applications, Implications and Hands-on Activities A compendium for educators Edited by the European Commission Directorate-General for Research and Innovation Industrial technologies (NMP) programme Authors: Luisa Filipponi and Duncan Sutherland Directorate-General for Research and Innovation Industrial technologies (NMP) 2013 EUR 24957 Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union Freephone number (*): 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (*) Certain mobile telephone operators do not allow access to 00 800 numbers or these calls may be billed. LEGAL NOTICE Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use which might be made of the following information. The views expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission. More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu). Cataloguing data and copyright information can be found at the end of this publication. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2012 ISBN 978-92-79-21437-0 ISSN 1018-5593 doi:10.2777/76945 © European Union, 2012 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. Printed in Luxembourg Printed on elemental chlorine-free bleached paper (ECF) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This publication has been developed within the context of the research developed by the European project NANOYOU, funded by the European Union’s seventh framework programme (FP7, grant agreement n° 233433). It has been enriched by the authors with numerous and multifaceted inputs, reflections and insights on societal issues, also provided by the European project TimeforNano. (FP7, grant agreement n° 233481). The outcomes from all these efforts have been integrated and edited into an overall and fully referenced book, showing how to address nanosciences and nanotechnologies concepts and applications. It has been specifically developed to present in a single, balanced compendium, much of the relevant and valuable educational material that will help inform, motivate and inspire young people about nano- technologies and their applications. Theory, application and experiments in nanosciences and nanotech- nologies are organised in self-contained modules that offer increased flexibility throughout the develop- ment of the course. Moreover, a case study approach provides teachers with practical applications and examples to discuss in class. The programme focuses on three application fields — information and communication technologies, energy and environment, and medicine — and also addresses the associated ethical, societal, legal and safety aspects to encourage further dialogue. Resources and training materials are available to educators, supported, also, by online tutor web portals where young people and educators can actively participate in virtual dialogues, experiments and games. The lessons, discussions on applications and experiments presented in this book have been tested by teachers, professors and educators from about one thousand schools (50 pilot schools and 906 ancil- lary schools) in 20 European countries from 2010 to 2011, reaching about 40.000 students. This expe- rience allowed for feedback and enriched this book with many comments and contributions, enabling to produce the final and inclusive version. 3 NOTE FROM THE EDITOR The challenge of this book is to present in an understandable and attractive way nanosciences and nanotechnologies to the educational community. The first version was written as part of the NANOYOU project with the aim of providing school teachers and educators of pupils aged 14-18 years with a comprehensive, yet easy to read and use, compendium on nanotechnologies that covers fundamental concepts of nanosciences and nanotechnologies, applications in three main application areas (medicine, environment and energy, information and communication technologies), and experiments that can be safely carried out by the teacher in school science laboratories. A key goal was to emphasize practical applications relevant to youngsters, and to include topics of ethics, legal and societal aspects associated with selected applications. The challenge was to provide school teachers and educators with a lasting tool they could use for their school teaching to integrate nanosciences and nanotechnologies concepts in their activities. As such, it should not be seen as a comprehensive scientific review (and for this reason some latest developments, in say graphene, are not included): it is rather a compendium that can be used by teachers, educators, or general readers interested in gaining some fundamental understand of nanotechnologies, their principles, applications but also implications, for individuals and society. After its first version, the book has been further reviewed, selecting and integrating diverse inputs, reflections and insights, also from other European projects: all these efforts have provided a very valuable and integrated view of the science, technology and applications of the nano disciplines, simultaneously offering innovative, inspiring and stimulating visions and understandings of the complexity and societal relevance they do represent. In this light, the aim and domain of this book is to illustrate the essence of nanotechnology. To this end, the authors have succeeded in illustrating the new methods and materials, as well as explaining and discussing the theory, applications and scientific experimentations on nanosciences and nanotechnologies. In addition, the coverage of related ethics, legal, societal impact and safety complements the techno- scientific issues by raising awareness and stimulating debates on the benefits, challenges and risks for society that may be associated with the development of these and other emerging technologies. We feel this work is particularly important: in fact, nanosciences and nanotechnologies are at the forefront of today’s science and technology, engineering both matter and living systems at the scale of molecules and atoms. Their unique applications, products, markets and profitable revenue sources can bring new benefits and challenges to both society and economy, as they are becoming increasingly embedded in today’s life. In fact, society at large needs to understand their pros and cons to make responsible choices about new products and processes: research, innovation and education constitute a living ecosystem, where education plays a key role. Young Europeans might become increasingly attracted to boost their awareness and knowledge in these disciplines and their associated impacts: in fact, future scientists could need to become more conscious and equipped on the fundamentals,
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