Collaborating on convergent technologies: education and practice.
Converging technologies will require collaboration across disciplines. A good metaphor for such collaborations is the kind of trading zone that emerges whenever human beings from different cultures interact. NBIC must avoid trading zones that are dominated by one discipline or set of interests and instead encourage multiple stakeholders to form a shared mental model of what needs to be accomplished. An example is drawn from current work on societal dimensions of nanotechnology. Students need to gain experience working in such trading zones, in addition to acquiring disciplinary depth.
Gorman
Michael E
ME
Division of Technology, Culture Communications, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia, 351 McCormick Road, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA. meg3c@virginia.edu
D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends; D012106:Research / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D012107:Research Design; D013672:Technology / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D018581:Technology Transfer