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Sept. 10, 2007

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

Symposium examines nanotechnology and impact on health, policy

DATE: Oct. 25-26, 2007.

EVENT: The 2007 Bernstein Symposium, "Nanotechnology and Health: Evidence and Impact." The symposium, hosted by the University of Michigan Center for Risk Science and Communication which is housed in the School of Public Health, brings together leading scientists and policymakers to examine the emerging field of nanotechnology, its potential impact on human health, and the growing debate over whether and how to regulate nanotechnology products.

The keynote address will be delivered by Christine Todd Whitman, former governor of New Jersey and former administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Her talk is titled, "Risky, Riskier, Riskiest: The Pitfalls, Perils, and Possibilities for Policymakers."

Other national and international scientific and policy experts will explore the implications, challenges, and opportunities provided by nanotechnology during this two- day event.

The government is faced with having to regulate new materials with unanticipated properties without very much data on which to build their evaluation. Moving toward evidence-based risk/benefit analysis, policy and regulation is a major challenge. Communicating the risks and benefits of nanotechnology to the public will profoundly impact how the field is perceived, and how it will be allowed to impact the economy.

PLACE: Biomedical Science Research Building University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

SPONSOR: The School of Public Health Center for Risk Science and Communication at the University of Michigan. The Center for Risk Science and Communication studies health risks from environmental hazards, and provides independent and objective information about health risks to a broad group of stakeholders in order
to promote informed decision-making.

REGISTRATION: Deadline for registration is Oct.15. The event is free and open to the public. For more information and to register for the symposium, please visit:
http://www.sph.umich.edu/riskcenter/2007%20Symposium/index.htm

OTHER: Travel, accommodations, and parking information can be found on the
Web site, or you may contact Tracy Crew at (734) 615-3050 or tcrew@umich.edu.

Contact: Laura Bailey
Phone: (734) 647-1848

Related Categories: Public Health