Sense About Science, a UK organisation founded to to promote an evidence-based approach to scientific issues in the public domain has been caught talking nonsense. A letter to the Times from Greenpeace Chief Scientist Doug Parr rightly, in our view, slaps director Tracey Browns wrists over her comments concerning Greenpeaces alleged opposition to nanotechnology.
Nanotechnology is a broad an complex area, and there will be areas of concern to the environmental groups, and areas where nanotechnology can provide significant environmental benefits. It is good that organisation such as Greenpeace are keeping an open mind, it is a shame that the same cannot be said about some of those claiming to represent science and business.
To avoid history repeating itself, anyone involved in the commercialisation of nanotechnologies would do well to heed Dr Parrs comments on the European response to GM foods:
“Greenpeace believes that public unease about GM organisms relates to the availability of benefits, and the responsibility, accountability and trustworthiness of companies and Government.”