April 30, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Patrick Lin
Cal Poly Nanoethics Group
805-570-5651

Professor Lin Speaking on Nanoethics May 10

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Cal Poly’s Nanoethics Group director, Patrick Lin, will be the featured speaker at The Discovery Institute for the Advancement of Science and Technology Education’s Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) Showcase on Saturday, May 10, at Cuesta College.

Lin, a visiting assistant professor at  Cal Poly and post-doctoral associate at Dartmouth College, will present “Nanotechnology’s Promises and Challenges.” In his talk, he will focus on the basics of nanotechnology and its applications in such areas as computing, the military, medicine, energy, environment, and food and agriculture. He will also explore the ethical and social issues arising from nanotechnology.

The STEM Showcase will feature high-school, middle-school, and college-level student teams from San Luis Obispo, and local STEM-focused organizations will showcase current experiments, simulations and projects.

The STEM Showcase will be held at Cuesta College’s Student Center (Building 5000) from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.  Lin’s presentation and an awards banquet will follow. Admission to the showcase is free. Luncheon tickets are $7. 

The Discovery Institute is led by Executive Director Derrick Lavoie, who teaches biology at Cuesta College and at Cal Poly. 

For more information, go to www.institutefordiscovery.org.

About The Discovery Institute for the Advancement of Science and Technology Education

The Discovery Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the improvement of science, health and technology education at all levels, particularly in informal settings.  It provides a variety of educational resources and programs for teachers, students and researchers, emphasizing hands-on, minds-on approaches with goals for improving conceptual understanding, problem-solving skills, and the use of advanced technologies.

About The Nanoethics Group
Based at Cal Poly, The Nanoethics Group is a nonpartisan research organization formed to study nanotechnology’s impact on society and related ethical issues. Its members are professional ethicists who help identify and evaluate possible harms and conflicts as well as to bring balance and common sense to the debate. The group’s mission is to educate and advise organizations and the broader public on nanotechnology issues as a foundation to guide policy and responsible research.  For more information, go to www.nanoethics.org.

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