Program and Registration Announced for Civic Participatory Nanotechnology Event

The STS Civic Forum on the Societal Implications of Nanotechnology is a participatory civic event designed to set standards for effective stakeholder engagement of nanotechnology's societal opportunities and challenges. STS seeks to attract four groups of stakeholders for a total of 400 participants. They are government and policy makers; local area businesses, especially those who actively participate in nanotechnology, as well as the industry's innovators and entrepreneurs; academia, scientists, and students; and the general public.

(PRWEB) August 10, 2005 -- The Science, Technology & Society Program (STS) at the University of Texas at Austin today announced registration and program information for the STS Civic Forum on the Societal Implications of Nanotechnology. The event is being held on Saturday, October 1 from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM at the University of Texas at Austin Campus, UTC 2.112.

There is no cost to attend the STS Civic Forum on the Societal Implications of Nanotechnology, but an RSVP is required and participants must commit to the full day (9:00-3:30). On-line Registration for the event begins on August 15, 2005 at: http://www.sts.utexas.edu/civicforum.

Nanotechnology companies are also encouraged to sponsor an Exhibit Table showcasing their products or services. For more information please contact Dr. Leslie Jarmon at LJarmon@mail.utexas.edu or 512.232.4639.

(All times are local.)

Saturday, October 1, 2005

9:00 AM to 10:05 AM: Opening by Dr. Elizabeth Keating, Director, & Dr. Leslie Jarmon, STS Outreach Officer. Master of Ceremonies, comedian Les McGehee: STS Nano Movie

10:05 AM to 10:30 AM: Welcoming remarks by President Larry Faulkner and Mayor Will Wynn

10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon: Expert Panel moderated by Gary Chapman, Director, 21st Century Project, UT

Panel members include:

- Dr. Randy Goldsmith, Asst. VP, Technology Transfer, UT Health Science Ctr. San Antonio

- Dr. Priscilla Weeks, Houston Advanced Research Center

- Dr. Naomi Halas, Halas Nanophotonics Group, Rice University

- Dr. Sanjay Banerjee, Director, Microelectronics Research Center, UT

- Dr. Grant Willson, Co-Founder, Molecular Imprints

- Dr. Keith Stevenson, Stevenson Research Group, Analytical Chemistry, UT

12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM: Lunch will be provided at the "Nano Fair" with company exhibits and nanoscience posters

1:00 PM to 2:30 PM: Civic Participation in Nano Scenario -- All Participate

2:30 PM to 3:00 PM: Debriefing and refreshments

3:00 PM to 3:30 PM: - Summary, Identify Next Steps, Raffle, and Closing Remarks by Dr. Elizabeth Keating and Dr. Leslie Jarmon

Raffle prizes donated by civic forum sponsors include SAS Samsung's 50' DLP TV and AMD's new Lance Armstrong "LiveStrong" laptop w/backpack.

The STS Civic Forum on the Societal Implications on Nanotechnology is designed to set standards for effective stakeholder engagement of nanotechnology's societal opportunities and challenges. It is the first large-scale civic forum in the world focusing public discussion on the social impacts of nanotechnology. Through this event, organizers seek to bring all critical stakeholders together, including government and policy makers; local area businesses, especially those who actively participate in nanotechnology, as well as the industry's innovators and entrepreneurs; academia, scientists, and students; and the general public.

About the STS Civic Forum

The Science, Technology, & Society Program (STS) at the University on Texas at Austin, under the Directorship of Dr. Elizabeth Keating, is sponsoring the Civic Forum on the Societal Implications on Nanotechnology. This participatory civic event, the first large-scale nanotechnology event of its kind in the world, was designed by Dr. Leslie Jarmon and the STS Civic Forum Team and is designed to set standards for effective stakeholder engagement of nanotechnology's societal opportunities and challenges.

For additional information, please contact:

Dr. Leslie Jarmon, STS Community Outreach Officer or Dr. Elizabeth Keating, STS Director, or visit the STS site at http://www.sts.utexas.edu/civicforum/.

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