Abstract
Nanotechnology touches nearly every aspect of our lives and has the potential to significantly impact society in areas as diverse as medicine, agriculture, water, textiles, infrastructure, transportation, and consumer electronics. This chapter provides a brief introduction to nanotechnology and highlights some of the major discoveries that have driven the field forward. Synopses of the contributions by top researchers in many fields are used to illustrate the multidisciplinary nature of nanotechnology. Work at the nanoscale has the potential to address some of the toughest challenges facing the world. Female scientists and engineers in particular are making strides in areas such as cancer treatment, clean water availability, and sustainable energy production. Nanotechnology-enabled products are increasingly ubiquitous and promise to lead to even greater advances in the future. This widespread use of nanotechnology continues to drive the need to consider potential implications on human and environmental health to ensure responsible development. Furthermore, education in and broad awareness of nanotechnology is important to address workforce needs and support savvy consumers.
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Friedersdorf, L.E., Spadola, Q.A. (2020). Introduction to Nanotechnology. In: Norris, P., Friedersdorf, L. (eds) Women in Nanotechnology. Women in Engineering and Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19951-7_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19951-7_1
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