LamprouMemo36

Memo 36 Dear Dr. Clayton Teague My name is Anna Lamprou and I am a PhD student in the Department of Science and Technology Studies at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. I am currently working on my dissertation project which is focusing in the issue of nanotechnology standards development and their harmonization processes in EU and the US. I’m writing to you in order to express my interest in learning more about your work and activities with the ANSI- Nanotechnology Standards Panel, either by conducting a formal or an informal interview with you. My current research interests are oriented towards issues of public participation in policy development in the field of nanotechnology. Through a comparative study between the US and the EU political cultures, my primary focus is in deliberative processes of standards development and their harmonization in the two continents. Departing from the fact that global scientific cooperation in the area of nanotechnology will require development of common standards. However, this may prove challenging, given significant differences in European and American styles of science and technology policymaking. In the case of nanotechnology, both the EU and the US show an interest in developing open spaces for discussion on the subject where the public can be involved. In the US, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) established in 2004 a Nanotechnology Standards Panel (ANSI-NPS), while in the EU the European’s Commission Directorate General for Health and Consumers has held an annual Nanotechnology Safety for Success Dialogue Workshop since 2007. As a social scientist I use interviews as the main research method in order to gather data. Throughout my project I will conduct interviews with scientists, policy makers, and various stakeholders interested or been active in the case of nanotechnology standards in the US and the EU. ANSI-NSP is one of the first initiatives with the objective to bring together the interested stakeholders to discuss and decide about the volunteer standards in the case of nanotechnology. I am really interested in finding out more about the processes, the objectives, the outcomes, the discussions, the meetings of the stakeholders, as well as your personal opinion concerning the activities of the Panel. An interview with you will benefit a great deal my research project. If I conduct a formal interview I will use a tape recorder, then I will transcribe and edit it, and send it back to you so you can make any additional edits. I am also flexible in conducting an interview on an anonymous basis with you, the basic procedures will be the same, but your name and ANSI will not be connected to the material. Even if you don’t want to conduct a formal interview with me, an informal interview will be very helpful as well. I will be more than happy to come and meet with you any time is convenient for you. If you have any questions about my project, my research, or the interview, please feel free to contact me, by e-mail (lampra@rpi.edu) or you can call me (518-944-1350). I am very flexible in general. I look forward to receiving your reply. Sincerely, Anna Lamprou