"Expo Nano, technology takes on a new dimension" is the first French exhibition on nanotechnologies. The objective is to explain to the public what nanotechnologies are, to make them aware of the scientific, economic and social implications of nanotechnologies and to start discussion on the topic: let all those involved have a voice.
Designed as a living device, developing in line with the interactions of the visitor and research news on these subjects, the exhibition will always be a real time vision of the nanoworld. At the end of its time at Casemate in Grenoble, the contributions of the visitors will be put into a publication that will be sent to scientific, political, economic and social key figures in nanotechnologies in order to inform them in turn of people's opinions and questions as regards these new technologies.
Defined by its scale, the nanoworld escapes our usual perceptions, by its "invisibility" and by the rules that regulate it, which are very different to our usual conventions. Acting on the scale of the nanometre means for physicians, chemists, biologists and even for IT experts and cognititians working on the "same" investigation area. In Europe, in the United States and in Asia, nanotechnologies are attracting more and more interest and, for some people, they could even be the central focus of the next industrial revolution.
However, this new technological wave is already stirring up many controversies. Nanotechnologies have such a broad field of application that the questions that they pose go beyond research and industrial production worlds. Scientists, individuals, associations, national and international institutions: all of them are discussing and giving their opinion on the subject. The ambition of this exhibition is to take into account the largest number of nanotechnology implications.
The public is invited to enter into an environment that is different from their everyday one. It is confronted with unusual scales: the micrometre, the nanometre. It discovers the physical laws that govern the world of the atom as well as the observation techniques developed by researchers.
Key messages: change of scale - change of physical laws - observation techniques
Museographic devices:
Through the history of science the public discovers the methods and instruments that allow us to observe and to manipulate atoms. The procedures and the manufacturing potential of nanomaterials are also presented as well as the limits and the prospects of research.
Key messages: manipulation of atoms - the bottom up manufacturing potential - NBIC convergence - the limits and prospects of research
Museographic devices:
The visitor will get to know the use that nature makes of nanomaterials then how man since ancient times has developed the use of nanomaterials. Then numerous applications are presented. Finally, the impact on the economy, professions and companies is discussed.
Key messages: nanotechnologies in nature - economy - professions
Museographic devices:
All the new techniques are imbued in the imagination of their era. This historical look-back allows us to better understand the fears and fantasies generated by the development of a new technique. Then, experts comment on the potential risks of their studies and the ethical issues raised by developing nanotechnologies. Finally, the visitor is invited to contribute to collective thinking in a free expression area.
Key messages: imagination and history of science - potential risks and studying them - ethics of science - debate science-society - public expression
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www.exponano.com - © CCSTI Grenoble | juillet 2008