What role for civil society?
The population is still not very well informed about the developments of nanotechnologies, even though they affect everyone’s future. The vagueness and complexity of the nano domain1The term “nanotechnology” is a catch-all word that covers different realities. As underlined by the association Sciences et Démocratie in 2010, this term “adds a layer of complexity to the work of explanation necessary to allow the citizen to apprehend the subject, especially as its definition is still the subject of debate between specialists”. and the opacity that surrounds public decisions as well as the processes used by industrialists hinder the transparency that is necessary in a true democracy.
In 2009-2010, the national public debate on nanotechnologies organized in France revealed the communication difficulties that existed between citizens, administrations, researchers and industrialists on nanos. Citizens have limited access to the elements that have led, or will lead, to the choices concerning the orientations and financing of research, development and commercialization of nanotechnologies and nanomaterials.
The association AVICENN, through the information it makes available to all on this website https://veillenanos.fr and social networks, aims to provide transversal, readable and independent information on nanos and to facilitate the identification of key stakeholders and places where important decisions are made in this vast and complex field. In order to empower citizens, we provide them with the necessary tools to understand the issues at stake so that they can, if they wish, take part in the debates, influence the decisions and act with full knowledge of the facts.
Other stakeholders or programs show a willingness to involve citizens or “the public” in the governance of nanotechnologies, although there is sometimes a risk of instrumentalizing them and vigilance is required. Indeed, if public consultations and debates have made it possible to inform a larger – although still insufficient – number of citizens, the conditions of their implementation are often controversial and their recommendations have been followed by little effect(s)… More effectively, it is through the mobilization of civil society organizations2Cf. Xi Wang, Revisiting “upstream public engagement” in nanotechnologies: from the perspective of the public sphere, Library and information sciences. Université Paul Sabatier – Toulouse III, 2015. that their questions and recommendations can be raised, at least initially, to the decision-making level.
Civil society in nano governance
Other news on the topic
Upcoming Nano Agenda
- Webinar presenting the example guide produced by NanoMesureFrance, to illustrate the difficulties encountered in dimensional analysis of particles by electron and atomic force microscopy.
- Organizers: Eurotox
- Speaker: Carola Voss (Helmholtz Zentrum München)
- Registration form
- MOOC from April 28 to June 22, 2025
- Public who has carried out two or more years of scientific studies at university, as well as professionals or the self-educated who want to discover, learn more or acquire specific knowledge in some area of nanoscience.
- Organizer: Paris Saclay University
- Course paln:
- Theme 1: Introduction to nanoscience and nanotechnology – Let’s lay the foundations and discover the key concepts of this field.
- Theme 2: How can you “see” and fabricate nano-objects? We will discover what tools are used to observe matter at these scales and what techniques the scientist can use to make objects that are only a few billionths of a meter in size.
- Theme 3: Nanochemistry – From carbon to porous solids and nanoparticle synthesis; applications of the field.
- Theme 4: Nanophysics – Quantum effects and nanoelectronic devices; optical nanostructures: the confinement of light and emission; nanosensors; applications of the field.
- Theme 5: Nanobiology, Nanomedicine, Micro-nanofluidics – The study and manipulation of molecules; treating diseases with nanomedicine; the on-chip manipulation of liquids for medical diagnosis; applications of the field.
- Theme 6: Nanoscience and Society: Are Nanotechnologies dangerous? Societal, health and environmental issues.
- Website: www.fun-mooc.fr/en/courses/understanding-nanosciences
- E-learning program: awareness-raising for personnel who come into contact with nanomaterials during research, formulation, production, maintenance, cleaning, upkeep, etc., as well as safety coordinators or engineers, facility managers, heads of laboratories where nanoparticles are handled.
- Organizers: INSTN Grenoble (CEA)
- On the program:
- 1 – Introduction, definition and characteristics of nanomaterials
- 2 – Toxicity of nanomaterials: the state of knowledge
- 3 – Metrology and characterization of nanomaterials
- 4 – Prevention and protection against nanomaterials in the workplace
- 5 – Quiz: assessment of learning outcomes
- The 2-hour course can be viewed for one month from the date of registration.
- Website: https://instn.cea.fr/…risques-lies-aux-nanomateriaux…
Notes and references
- 1The term “nanotechnology” is a catch-all word that covers different realities. As underlined by the association Sciences et Démocratie in 2010, this term “adds a layer of complexity to the work of explanation necessary to allow the citizen to apprehend the subject, especially as its definition is still the subject of debate between specialists”.
- 2Cf. Xi Wang, Revisiting “upstream public engagement” in nanotechnologies: from the perspective of the public sphere, Library and information sciences. Université Paul Sabatier – Toulouse III, 2015.