Nanopublic - Nanotechnologies and society interdisciplinary platform UNIL-EPFL

• Nanopublic, starded April 1^st 2006, is a platform for dialogue and transdisciplinary investigation between the swiss nanotechnology stakeholders : researchers in physical sciences, biomedicine and social sciences, firms, policy makers, NGOs and citizens.

• Nanopublic is supported by a research team from the University of Lausanne (UNIL), the Lausanne Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) and the Institute for Occupational Health Sciences (IST) which covers the following fields of expertise : social studies of science and technology, science policy, law, geography, philosophy, industrial ecology, material science, physics, medicine, toxicology and biology.

• Nanopublic collaborates with projects following similar objectives in Switzerland and abroad.

• Nanopublic has obtained the label of the Anthropos program of the University of Lausanne. It is funded by UNIL, the EPFL and the Competence Centre for Materials Science and Technology (CCMX).

• Nanopublic is led by the Science-society interface of the University of Lausanne.

• Workshops gathering the actors of nanotechnologies -researchers in the fields of nanotechnologies and social sciences, engineers, representatives from private companies and NGOs- to debate different topics : research and innovation policies, governance, risk assessment and management, socio-economic and cultural issues.

• Public conferences and workshops.

• Fieldwork investigations in laboratories and private companies in order to identify which kind of "imaginaries" and visions of the society are shaping the research agenda in nanosciences and nanotechnology.

• Implementation of a computerized documentary platform in order to map, at a large scale, the strategies of the actors as well as public debates concerning socio-economic and cultural issues; in collaboration with the project Dia-Logos.

NanoImpactNet - European Network on the Health and Environmental Impact of Nanomaterials

NanoImpactNet is a multidisciplinary European network on the health and environmental impact of nanomaterials. NanoImpactNet will create a scientific basis to ensure the safe and responsible development of engineered nanoparticles and nanotechnology-based materials and products, and will support the definition of regulatory measures and implementation of legislation in Europe.

It focuses on a strong two-way communication to ensure efficient dissemination of information to stakeholders and the European Commission, while at the same time obtaining input from the stakeholders about their needs and concerns.

Website access, click here.

Ethos - Interdisciplinary Ethics Unit of the University of Lausanne

Ethos promotes new approaches of interdisciplinary research and dialogue in ethics, in the fields of human, natural and biomedical sciences.

Website access, click here.