BOND: NANOTECNOLOGY IS NOT SCIENCE FICTION Senator Keynotes Washington University Symposium, Touts the Life Changing Promise Nanotechnology Holds for Human Health, Troops, Energy Needs
PoliticalNews.me - Oct 28,2010 - ST. LOUIS, Mo – U.S. Senator Kit Bond delivered the keynote address at the NanoFrontiers Symposium at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri where the Senator praised the life changing promise this field of science holds for human health, our troops in the field, and meeting the world’s growing energy needs.
“Nanotechnology is not science fiction. It is science. It is not just ‘Honey I shrunk the kids,’ but a potential solution to many real-world problems we face,” said Bond. “I encourage all of you to listen, and learn from others here. And discover how you can help create – and be a part of – the exciting future of science. We do not want to keep this science in the laboratory. We want to bring it to the battlefield, to our hospitals, and to our homes. And we want Missouri to lead the way.”
Speaking at today’s symposium, hosted by Washington University, Bond stressed that nanotechnology is already delivering breathtaking results. The Senator pointed out that the real-life applications will benefit everyone – from more precise delivery of medicines, alternative energy solutions like advance battery technology, the ability to better detect chemical, biological and other threats, and more accurately guided missiles.
In addition to real-life applications that will contribute to solving some of our nation’s challenges, nanotechnology has the potential to be a jobs-boon for the United States. Bond emphasized that Missouri is uniquely suited to take advantage of this science and industry. In particular, the creation of the NanoTechnology Enterprise Consortium, whose members include the Boeing Company, EaglePicher, Brewer Science and the University of Missouri in Columbia and St. Louis, will solidify Missouri as a leader in nanotechnology. Already the consortium includes 18 members made up of medium and small start-up companies and universities who are working on a number of different projects – from sensors to microchip security to multi-functional coatings, energy applications and nanomaterials.
While the field of nanotechnology offers amazing solutions to tackle domestic and global problems the science still faces challenges. The Senator stressed that, much like biotechnology, there are some in the United States and in Europe who reject sound-science and instead utilize propaganda and hysteria to rally against the field’s applications. Bond urged the scientists, business and industry leaders at today’s symposium to help educate the American public and the world about the benefits – and sound science – behind nanotechnology. Overcoming this challenge is critical to ensuring that this science does not just stay in the lab – but instead allowing nanotechnology’s benefits to come to the battlefield, our hospitals, and homes.
Senator Bond has long championed federal funding for science and technology research. More than a decade ago, then-chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the National Science Foundation, Bond worked with Senator Mikulski (D-MD) to pour money into the agency for basic research on emerging technologies like biotechnology and nanotechnology. Also, as then-chairman of the Senate Small Business Committee, Bond supported Small Business Innovation Research grant programs that
