Living technologies

The animal kingdom provides cues for many technological innovations. Some of the very recent, animal-motivated, technological pursuits are discussed in this article.     

Anticipating Ethical Challenges: Is There a Coming Era of Nanotechnology?

In this paper I question the claims made for a ‘coming era of nanotechnology’ and the ethical challenges, it is argued, that are entailed by this particular technological revolution. I argue that such futurist claims are sustained by an untenable modernist narrative which separates the technical and the social. This is exemplified by the work of K. Eric Drexler and his claim that whilst the course of scientific knowledge may remain unpredictable we nevertheless can predict with accuracy the trajectory of technology and particularly the emergence of nanotechnology. The problem then, on the basis of knowledge about the future state of technology, is to make choices now which will forestall unintended and undesirable consequences. Firstly, the paper argues for a radical scepticism towards all forms of forecasting or prediction but especially technological forecasting of the type exemplified in the debate around nanotechnology. Secondly, given this radical scepticism the paper criticises the idea that a prospective ethics can be created on the basis of an assessment of consequences of nanotechnology.     

纳米技术在工业设计中的应用

纳米技术已被应用到各个领域,本文例举说明纳米技术在工业设计中的应用,并指出在将来的工业设计仍扮演很重要的角色,会被广泛应用。     

Identification and assessment of professional competencies for implementation of nanotechnology in engineering education

The purpose of this study was to construct the indicators of professional competencies of the nanotechnology-based sputtering system industry based on industry requirements and analyse the core competencies of the industry for promoting the human resource of physical vapour deposition technology. The document analysis, expert interview, and Delphi technique surveys were considered and the survey items with 32 items divided into 7 domains were selected according to consensus opinions of 10 experts by the Delphi survey technique. Through three questionnaire surveys’ analysis, the professional competence scales for the K–S tests showed a good internal consistency. The findings of this study provide guidelines for professional competence for nanotechnology-based sputtering technology by applying surface heat-treatment industry. These guidelines can also reveal the practical competency requirements of nanotechnology-based sputtering technology to deal with any subsequent challenges, future developments, and invisible services for students in a technology institute programme.     

表界面分子自组装与调控

表界面分子自组装与调控是分子科学研究的前沿课题之一。研究表界面分子组装与调控有助于深入理解对分子吸附、分子间相互作用和吸附组装结构等科学问题,有助于发展新型纳米材料,制备新型纳米器件。本文以本课题组近年研究工作为主,介绍利用扫描隧道显微技术研究固体表面分子吸附组装以及如何调控分子组装结构的部分结果,包括分子吸附,主客体分子组装,组装结构调控等内容,并分析展望了该研究领域的发展趋势。     

Development of an Attitude Scale to Assess K-12 Teachers' Attitudes toward Nanotechnology

To maximize the contributions of nanotechnology to this society, at least 60 countries have put efforts into this field. In Taiwan, a government-funded K-12 Nanotechnology Programme was established to train K-12 teachers with adequate nanotechnology literacy to foster the next generation of Taiwanese people with sufficient knowledge in nanotechnology. In the present study, the Nanotechnology Attitude Scale for K-12 teachers (NAS-T) was developed to assess K-12 teachers' attitudes toward nanotechnology. The NAS-T included 23 Likert-scale items that can be grouped into three components: importance of nanotechnology, affective tendencies in science teaching, and behavioural tendencies to teach nanotechnology. A sample of 233 K-12 teachers who have participated in the K-12 Nanotechnology Programme was included in the present study to investigate the psychometric properties of the NAS-T. The exploratory factor analysis of this teacher sample suggested that the NAS-T was a three-factor model that explained 64.11% of the total variances. This model was also confirmed by the confirmatory factor analysis to validate the factor structure of the NAS-T. The Cronbach's alpha values of three NAS-T subscales ranged from 0.89 to 0.95. Moderate to strong correlations among teachers' NAS-T domain scores, self-perception of own nanoscience knowledge, and their science-teaching efficacy demonstrated good convergent validity of the NAS-T. As a whole, psychometric properties of the NAS-T indicated that this instrument is an effective instrument for assessing K-12 teachers' attitudes toward nanotechnology. The NAS-T will serve as a valuable tool to evaluate teachers' attitude changes after participating in the K-12 Nanotechnology Programme.     

基于专利分析的区域技术创新策略研究——以北京纳米技术为例

通过专利分析,研究了北京纳米技术的发展态势,并提出发展建议。研究表明,北京纳米技术领域处在快速发展的阶段,专利数量居全国首位,在我国纳米技术研发中占有重要的位置;研发力量以高等院校和科研院所等科研单位为主,清华大学研发优势明显;围绕纳米技术的产学研合作已经开展,但有合作深度与广度待于进一步加强。     

网络分析方法用于纳米科技领域科学合作状况的研究

本文以SCI数据库收录的国际纳米科技领域论文作为数据来源,借助pajek技术,对1990-2004年15年间世界纳米科技领域科学合作的网络进行分析,着重对纳米科技领域科学家个人之间、国家地区之间以及学科领域之间科学合作网络的特征进行探索研究。揭示出纳米科技领域科学合作网络的集群与成果产出之间的相关特征。     

基于专利相似度的突破性技术发明识别研究——以纳米技术为例

随着我国发明专利申请数量的迅猛增加,如何通过事前和事后指标测度并识别技术和经济价值高的突破性技术发明就成为学术界面临的焦点问题。针对我国专利普遍缺乏引文信息的现状,本文利用专利的国际专利分类（IPC）信息构建两两专利相似度指标,并引入时间维度对过去、当前以及未来三个时间段的专利相似度比较,测度专利的新颖性、独特性和影响力,从而构建突破性技术发明的综合识别方案。然后,以纳米技术为例,利用美国专利商标局（USPTO）在1975-2015年的授权发明专利数据进行实证检验。结果表明：（1）基于专利IPC四位和六位分类的相似度指标分别可以识别出6.23%和5.06%的纳米技术专利为突破性技术发明;（2）基于专利相似度识别的突破性技术发明与基于专利被引数识别的突破性技术发明具有显著的正相关关系,但是,两类识别方法得到的结果中仅有不足总样本的0.5%是相同的,表明以往单纯依赖专利被引数据识别突破性技术发明可能存在一定偏差;（3）对突破性技术发明来源特征的实证检验表明,基于专利相似度和基于专利被引数的突破性技术发明的发明人和组织来源特征基本一致,而发明层面的知识来源特征呈现不一致的结果,进一步反映出两类识别方案的差异性。本文基于专利相似度构建的突破性技术发明识别方案既为企业在实践中挖掘和利用高价值的发明专利提供参考,也对未来突破性技术发明相关研究达成一致结论具有重要意义。     

物理方法在废水处理中的应用

现代生活与生产对水质的要求日益提高,废水处理技术已成为近代重要的前沿科技领域。主要阐述废水的传统物理处理方法、纳米技术和超声波处理技术的物理原理及其在当今所取得的成就。