Maria Powell presents at a Nano Café at the South Madison Library. nanocafes/

1. Nano Café’s – Involving the Community in NanotechnologyPaul S. Nealy, Maria Powell and Mathilde Colin, University of Wisconsin-MadisonNSEC, DMR 0425880 The UW-NSEC is engaged in ongoing discussions with the community about nanotechnology via a series of Nano-Café’s. The meetings, held in public places accessible to diverse audiences, are co-organized by Citizens’ Coalition on Nanotechnology. To date, about 180 ordinary citizens have participated in four Madison Nano-Café’s. In coffee shops and libraries, NSEC faculty explain what nanotechnology is, discuss current research, and talk about societal, environmental and ethical issues raised by the development of nanotechnologies. At each Nano Café, the floor opens to questions and comments from members of the public, most of whom are non-scientists. To promote discussion, the Citizens’ Coalition on Nanotechnology show the attendees locally purchased consumer products made using nanotechnology. Maria Powell presents at a Nano Café at the South Madison Library. http://www.nanocafes.org/