Foresight Institute
The Foresight Institute is a not-for-profit organization that aims to educate the public about nanotechnology , especially with regard to the possibilities that can be expected with molecular nanotechnology (MNT).
History and goals
The institute was founded in 1985 by K. Eric Drexler and Christine Peterson , Drexler's wife at the time, a year before Drexler's Engines of Creation came out . It is located in Palo Alto , California , in the Silicon Valley .
The Institute is generally positive about MNT and takes the position that earlier development is better than later development, as MNT has enormous potential to alleviate most of the world's pressing problems today and in the foreseeable future.
The sister organization Institute for Molecular Manufacturing (IMM) conducts MNT research.
activities
Some employees have spoken to the US Senate several times to point out the possibilities and dangers of MNT and to advance research into these opportunities and risks.
Since 1989 the institute has organized annual conferences on MNT, at which the state of research is presented and exchanged, and also gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to establish contacts.
The institute's website offers a very extensive collection of resources available on the internet on all kinds of topics related to nanotechnology. There is also the "Foresight update" newsletter (approx. Quarterly).
The American media scientist David M. Berube points out that through all the activities mentioned here (as well as an aggressive strategy of fundraising) the institute has created and also markets its own brand "Nanotechnology", similar to the Center for Responsible Nanotechnology, which also assigns it the founding figure K. Eric Drexler adds: "They are both proponents of their own brand of nanotechnology." (David M Berube: Nano-Hype: The Truth Behind The Nanotechnology Buzz. New York, Prometheus Books 2006, p. 247) Berube exposes this organization, which presents itself as a kind of social "watchdog organization", In his book Nano-Hype as a Nanotechnology Promotion Machine: d. This means that this organization is a huge advertising machine on its own behalf, whose influence extends to the heads of government in all western societies.
Prizes and awards
The institute has presented several prizes and awards:
- Feynman Grand Prize . Named after Richard P. Feynman , this award is the highest that the institute has awarded. He is the first demonstration of an 8- bit - adder 50 nm awarded size and a robot arm 100 nm in size, an important basis for future nano computer or molecular manufacturing . The prize has been awarded since 1996 and is endowed with US $ 250,000.
- Feynman Prize . In 1993 , 1995 , 1997 and annually since 1997, US $ 5,000 each is awarded for theoretical and practical research aimed at advancing the development of MNT.
- Distinguished Student Award . This prize has been awarded annually since 1997 to the most promising students in the field of nanotechnology and is endowed with US $ 1,000.
- Foresight Prize in Communication . This prize has been awarded since 2000 for "outstanding journalistic or other communicative achievements that contribute to educating the public about molecular nanotechnology or another emerging key technology that has a major impact on society or the environment". The award is endowed with US $ 1,000.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Quote: Foresight focuses its efforts upon nanotechnology, the coming ability to build materials and products with atomic precision, and upon systems that will enhance knowledge exchange and critical discussion, thus improving public and private policy decisions. [1]
- ↑ [2]
- ↑ Archive link ( Memento of the original dated December 31, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
