LamprouMemo43

Memo 43: Plan No 1: Summer fellowship in the Heritage Chemical Foundation Environmental History and Policy Program in UPenn: The focus of the Environmental History and Policy (EHP) Program's "Controlling Chemicals" project is to explore the ways in which societies seek to achieve a balance between the production and use of chemicals and the inherent risks they may pose to human and environmental health. Through historical and contemporary analysis, they aim to understand the various ways in which societies seek to exert control over chemicals in production and use. Some of the topics of interest are: Industry/market-based initiatives developed in response to or to obviate the need for government regulation of chemicals; Cases exploring government initiatives that lead to regulations or other means by which chemicals could be controlled; Case studies that examine collaborations between two or more groups (industry, government, communities, scientists/engineers) involved in the regulatory process; and Cases focused on the role of NGOs in these processes. Focusing in political participation in the processes of controlling nanotechnology in the US, for this summer fellowship, I will explore the activities of three Civil Society Organizations (CSO): the Environmental Defense Fund (ED), the Friends of the Earth (FOE), and the // Action Group on Erosion, Technology and Concentration // (ETC group// ) //. What are the different strategies that different organizations follow, their different influence to governmental and policy regimes, and how do these differences reflect in the regulatory outcomes? ED is an organization which activities focus in discussing solutions through partnerships with governments and other interest groups. FOE on the other hand, an international group, very active in the case of nanotechnology, has gained a place in many conferences and workshops concerning nanotechnology policy development, while still uses grassroots’ advocacy strategies (protesting). Finally, ETC group, a radical international civil society organization, gained their reputation through fighting for agricultural biodiversity and defeating Monsanto’s patents. However, they have expanded their agendas beyond biotechnology, to nanotechnology regulation, but appear to be less interested and less effective in the case of nanotechnology. Exploring these three CSOs, this research proposal will contribute to answering the broader question of how social movements and civil society organizations participate in nanotech regulatory policy and what role they play in policy making procedures. Through this fellowship I will gather and analyze material through interviews and discourse analysis, that will contribute to my research by helping me answering the questions about public participation in standards development. Plan No 2: I will build a relationship with the Institute for Food and Agricultural Standards (IFAS) at Michigan State University. The IFAS has a long history in studies of standards development and will help me built my theoretical background on standards development in the case of nanotechnology. Plan No 3: Discourse analysis of policy documents on nanotechnology policies in EU and in the US; will help me built a background on the policy issues that are central to my dissertation. Plan No 4: I will build a relationship with the Center for Nanotechnology in Society at Arizona State University. The center will help me with my background literature and guide me with my research.