Public Awareness and Engagement 

The Public Awareness and Engagement Program's activities include free public forums, information and education materials, and feedback mechanisms such as regular public attitude surveys and a freecall information service.

Social Inclusion and Community Engagement Workshop

Old Parliament House, Canberra, 1 December 2008
The Australian Office of Nanotechnology invited participants from Government, Industry, Researchers, Community and Change agents to come together to develop principals and models for increased social inclusion and improved engagement between each other. More information about the Workshop is available.

Fact Sheets

• Nanotechnology and Occupational Health and Safety (.pdf, 97KB) (.rtf, 451KB)
• Nanotechnology - working with the smallest things (.pdf, 104KB)
• Measurement challenges in nanotechnology (.pdf, 247KB)
• National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) Information Sheet on Nanomaterials
• Small Particles, Nanotechnology and Food
• CSIRO Nanoparticles Information Sheet
• Journey into the nano-world (.pdf, 660KB) (.rtf, 84KB)
• Trends in public opinion towards nanotechnology: 2005-2008 (.pdf, 112.63KB) (.rtf, 2.54MB)

Public Forums

From November 2007 to December 2008 a series of free public forums on nanotechnology were held by the Australian Office of Nanotechnology in all capital cities around Australia. For podcasts of some of the public forum presentations, follow these links.

1. Talks providing an 'Introduction to Nanotechnology'
• Associate Professor Joe Shapter 'An Introduction to Nanotechnology' – Adelaide – 8 May 2008
• Professor Jim Williams 'The developing world of nanosciences' – Canberra – 10 December 2008
2. Talks on 'Nanotechnology Case Studies'
• Dr Maxine McCall 'What are the benefits and risks of nanotechnology?' – Sydney – 3 April 2008
• Professor Paul Mulvaney 'Uses of nanotechnology' – Darwin – 21 November 2007
• Professor Matt Trau 'Nanomedicines and biomaterials' – Brisbane – 29 November 2007
• Dr Dong Yang Wu 'Nanoparticle engineering' – Melbourne – 28 February 2008
• Dr Howard Morris 'Occupational Health and Safety' – Sydney – 3 April 2008
• Dr Asa Jamting 'Measuring nanoparticles' – Adelaide – 8 May 2008
• Professor Tanya Monro 'Nanotechnology in optical fibres' – Canberra – 10 December 2008
3. Talks on 'Health, Safety, Environment and Ethical issues about nanotechnology'
• Dr Andrew Maynard 'Managing nanotechnology risks' – Melbourne – 28 February 2008
• Professor John Weckert 'Ethics and nanotechnology' – Melbourne – 28 February 2008.
• Ms Georgia Miller 'Community particles' – Adelaide – 8 May 2008
• Professor Colin Raston 'Renewable energy, environment and health uses' – Perth – 18 June 2008.
• Adjunct Professor Julian Cribb 'Safeguarding our freedoms' – Canberra – 10 December 2008.
4. Online forum 'What's the big fuss about Nanotechnology?'
• Webinar forum (.pdf, 105KB) on industry uses of nanotechnology .
• Mr Clive Davenport, Director of CSIRO Future Manufacturing Flagship
• Dr Peter Binks, CEO NanoVentures Australia
• Ms Vanessa Heuser, Australian Nano Business Forum
• Associate Professor Paul Wright, Co-ordinator of NanoSafe Australia
• Dr Craig Cormick, Manager, Public Awareness, Australian Office of Nanotechnology

Further Information

AccessNano education resource
AccessNano is a free education resource for high school teachers that was launched in November 2008, it provides activity sheets, teachers guides and experiments.

Nanobooklet
Your quick guide (.pdf, 1.03MB) to the many potential used of nanotechnology.

Freecall Information Service – 1800 631 276
The Gene and Nanotechnology Information Service provides a freecall information service for any enquiries about nanotechnology, or can be accessed by email (gntis-australia@unimelb.edu.au) The Service, a partnership with the University of Melbourne, also provides outreach activities, such as expert speakers for schools and community groups and public displays.

Industry Awareness Survey
Industry surveys were carried out in 2005 and 2006 to gauge the level of awareness and understanding of nanotechnology issues among targeted firms with a potential interest in nanotechnology. Both the 2005 and the 2006 surveys were undertaken jointly by the Department and Nanotechnology Victoria (Nanovic).

• 2006 survey results (.pdf, 1MB).
• 2005 survey results (.pdf, 1MB).

Media Releases
A list of related media releases from the Australian Office of Nanotechnology.

Contact us

Dr Craig Cormick
Manager
Nanotechnology, Public Awareness
GPO Box 9839
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Telephone: +61 2 6213 6805
Email: craig.cormick@innovation.gov.au