Sustainable nanotechnology: Defining, measuring and teaching

The complexity of nanomaterials themselves as well as the enabling nature of nanotechnology in general results in significant difficulties in defining and measuring sustainability associated with emerging materials and products. Defining metrics of environmental, societal, and economic impacts and integrating them into a multi-criteria decision analysis model is one way to assess the sustainability of nanoproducts and processes through an applicationfocused top-down approach. Given the current high level of uncertainty in many aspects of nanotechnology and the unknown trajectory of a field still in its infancy, it is important to teach nanotechnology in a contextual setting where discussions of uncertainty and variability are strongly encouraged. Sustainability should be linked to technology management processes to capture evolving technology and understanding of its benefits and risks.