The challenge of nanotechnologies / Geoffrey Hunt and Michael D. Mehta -- Introducing nanotechnology -- Nanotechnology: from "wow" to "yuck" ? / Kristen Kulinowski -- Nanotechnology: from Feynman to funding / K. Eric Drexler -- Microsystems and nanoscience for biomedical applications: a view to the future / Linda M. Pilarksi, Michael D. Mehta, Timothy Caulfield, Karan V.I.S. Kaler, and Christopher J. Backhouse -- Nanotechnoscience and complex systems: the case for nanology / Geoffrey Hunt -- Regional developments -- Nanotechnologies and society in Japan / Matsuda Masami, Geoffrey Hunt, and Obayashi Masayuki -- Nanotechnologies and society in the USA / Kirsty Mills -- Nanotechnologies and society in Europe / Geoffrey Hunt -- Nanotechnologies and society in Canada / Linda Goldenberg -- Benefits and risks -- From biotechnology to nanotechnology: what can we learn from earlier technologies? / Michael D. Mehta -- Getting nanotechnology right the first time / John Balbus, Richard Denison, Karen Florini, and Scott Walsh -- Risk management and regulation in an emerging technology / Roland Clift -- Nanotechnologyand nanoparticle toxicity: a case for precaution / C. Vyvyan Howard and December S.K. Ikah -- The future of nanotechnology in food science and nutrition: can science predict its safety? / Arpad Pusztai and Susan Bardocz -- Ethics and public understanding -- The global ethics of nanotechnology / Geoffrey Hunt -- Going public: risk, trust and public understanding of nanotechnologies / Julie Barnett, Anna Carr, and Roland Clift -- Dwarfing the social? nanotechnology lessons from the biotechnology front / Edna F. Einsiedel and Linda Goldenberg -- Law and regulation -- Nanotechnologies and the law of patents: a collision course / Siva Vaidhyanathan -- Nanotechnologies and civil liability / Alan Hannah and Geoffrey Hunt -- Nanotechnologies and the ethical conduct of research involving human subjects / Lorraine Sheremeta -- Nanotechnologies and corporate criminal liability / Celia Wells and Juanita Elias -- What makes nanotechnologies special? / Michael D. Mehta and Geoffrey Hunt.