Abstract

Nanotechnology is the science, engineering and art of manipulating matter on a near-atomic scale and has been one of the unifying themes within science during the last 15 years. Practical applications cover biotechnology to computer microchips. In this talk I give an introduction to the methods and capabilities that have been developed within nanotechnology and attempt to address some of the wider ethical questions and concerns: what are the risks? can it get out of control? is nanotechnology the next asbestos, thalidomide or genetically modified organism? what can nanotechnology do towards mitigating climate change? I conclude by looking at nanotechnology within the framework of Judeo-Christian theology and suggest some ways in which previous thinking on the relationship between science and religion might be applied to nanotechnology.