EE 310 seminar, March 7, 2006

[Fely Barrera]

EE 310 Seminar

Date: March 7, 2006
Time: 4:15pm - 5:05 pm
Place: Hewlett 102

Title:
"Why your mother worries about what you do: the emerging public 
dialogue over nanotechnology"

Speaker:
Elizabeth Corcoran
Contributing Editor, Forbes magazine

Abstract:
The term "nanotechnology" pops up regularly in news stories these 
days-sometimes deservedly and sometimes not. This talk will review 
the stories and issues that are shaping the public dialogue about 
nanotechnology-from scare-monger stories (Michael Crichton's "Prey" 
and Bill Joy's infamous piece in Wired magazine), to stock pickers' 
erratic enthusiasm for "nano," to government investments in nanotech 
research, to the recent proposals by groups like the Environmental 
Defense Fund and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for more 
environmental regulation and oversight of nanotechnology.

Biography:
Elizabeth Corcoran is an award-winning journalist who has covered 
technology for more than 15 years. She is currently a Contributing 
Editor at Forbes magazine and served as Silicon Valley Bureau Chief 
for Forbes from February 1999 through May 2002. Prior to joining 
Forbes, Ms. Corcoran was a staff writer for The Washington Post, 
responsible for covering Silicon Valley and technology. She has also 
served as an editor and writer for Scientific American magazine and 
IEEE Spectrum. She has received awards both for news coverage as well 
as feature writing and has been named as a "top influencer" for 
several years by Marketing Computers Media Report. Elizabeth 
frequently moderates panels and is a regular commentator on radio and 
TV news programs.