How do agricultural scientists view advanced biotechnology?
Article Abstract:
The views of advanced biotechnology held by agricultural scientists are discussed by a Cornell University rural sociology department faculty member. The genomics revolution in agriculture is driven by multinational life science companies, among them Monsanto, Novartis, DuPont and Dow. In the land grant system, made up of state colleges/universities of agriculture, this is a focal point area for a broad range of programs, and at least two distinct views are held. Predominantly, the role of the land grant system is seen as being to educate the public about all aspects of biotech and lead in findings ways to use biotech to feed larger numbers of people and fight famine. Opponents feel scientists of the system advocate rather than educate, that they neglect to communicate potential social and environmental problems. Some agricultural scientists think the land grant system should take a more cautious approach and be less willing to accept funding from the corporations with an interest in biotech. Results of a survey by the US Dept of Agriculture of 1011 respondents from 13 desciplines are reviewed.
Publication Name: Chemical Innovation
Subject: Engineering and manufacturing industries
ISSN: 1527-4799
Year: 2001
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Advanced materials for high-speed commercial airplanes
Article Abstract:
New composites, resins, adhesives/sealants, and surface treatments for high-speed commercial airplanes are discussed with an account of the history of their development at NASA and Boeing. Prepreg and adhesive material forms based on PETI-5, which has oligomer molecular weight of about 5000 Da and had the best combination of properties among the candidates, provided large, high-quality composite and sandwich panels and showed promise for fabrication of large components. Much progress was made in developing an environmentally safe, 177 degrees Celsius-durable surface treatment for titanium alloys, but the best treatment, a sol-gel system, did not have needed Mach 2.4 high-speed civil transport (HSCT) requirements. The other big problem was fuel tank sealants. The US will in time build a fleet of high-speed commercial planes, but not Mach 2.4.
Publication Name: Chemical Innovation
Subject: Engineering and manufacturing industries
ISSN: 1527-4799
Year: 2000
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Revisiting the Mars sample return debate
Article Abstract:
The debate over the Mars Sample Return project is discussed. Concerns some people have over bringing samples from Mars back to Earth are discussed. NASA is to send the Mars Organic Detector to Mars in 2007. Possible signs of life are listed. Technology needed to analyze samples will be on the mobile unit. The views of The Mars Society, Gilbert Levin, and Jeffrey Bada, a marine chemistry professor and director of NASA's Specialized Center for Research and training in Exobiology at Scripps Inst. of Oceanography, Univ. of California, San Diego, are considered.
Publication Name: Chemical Innovation
Subject: Engineering and manufacturing industries
ISSN: 1527-4799
Year: 2001
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
- Abstracts: A renewable route to propylene glycol. Nanobiotechnology: Fulfilling the promise of nanomedicine. Fueling the chemical industry's future
- Abstracts: Hospital taps geothermal technology. Giants go global, says survey
- Abstracts: Sticking fast: designers can extend the range of materials they use by choosing the correct adhesive. In with the old
- Abstracts: Axioms to manage technology by. Working faster
- Abstracts: Physical aspects of color in foods. Micelle technology for magnetic nanosized alloys and composites. Radical ions as bearers of electron memory