ABSTRACT
Nano science and technology is often said to be a ‘revolutionary’ new field of development with the potential to radically change our lives. To attempt a short introduction to ‘nano’ science and technology is a daunting task. The field in question is incredibly broad and diverse, and both its definition and scope are hotly contested. The breadth of the field begins with the fact that the term ‘nano’ is used to refer to both ‘science’ and ‘technology’; where ‘nanoscience’ appears across a wide range of scientific disciplines and ‘nanotechnology’ has potential application in a range of different sectors. That science has always interacted with society seems obvious, and yet, the two spheres are often conceptually separated. This separation is supported by powerful ideas of what science is and how society should relate to it. The majority of the negative impacts generated by science-based technologies have of course been unexpected.
