Nanotechnology for sustainability: what does nanotechnology offer to address complex sustainability problems? (original) (raw)

2012, Journal of Nanoparticle Research

8 Abstract Nanotechnology is widely associated with 9 the promise of positively contributing to sustainabil-10 ity. However, this view often focuses on end-of-pipe 11 applications, for instance, for water purification or 12 energy efficiency, and relies on a narrow concept of 13 sustainability. Approaching sustainability problems 14 and solution options from a comprehensive and 15 systemic perspective instead may yield quite different 16 conclusions about the contribution of nanotechnology 17 to sustainability. This study conceptualizes sustain-18 ability problems as complex constellations with sev-19 eral potential intervention points and amenable to 20 different solution options. The study presents results 21 from interdisciplinary workshops and literature 22 reviews that appraise the contribution of the selected 23 nanotechnologies to mitigate such problems. The 24 study focuses exemplarily on the urban context to 34 Keywords Nanotechnology Á Sustainability Á 35 Complex problems Á Problem solving Á Intervention 36 research Á Anticipatory governance 37 38

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