Executive Summary of Research Proposal
The idea of nanotechnology was introduced by Richard Feynman in 1959. The term nanotechnology refers to the ability to measure, manipulate and organize matter at the atomic level. There is one per billion of 1 m or approximately about 80,000 times smaller than human hair. Being able to create structures one atom at a time will make it possible to produce mechanisms with capabilities far superior to current devices.
Nanotechnology becomes more popular currently, especially in developed country such as in USA, European Community, Japan, Taiwan as well as Korea. Much scientific research was carried out and many products have been commercialized, while most are still in prototype status. According to analysis and researchers nanotechnology based product will be fully implemented and as an electives for many products and services beginning by 2015. Eventhough the nanotechnology are very potential either in products manufacturing, R&D as well as socio-economic but the most important factors are the awareness and acceptance of world community. Malaysia was launching nanotechnology initiative in 2010 which including R&D and education as well as socio-economic. Awareness and acceptance is a one of the key factor to make sure the nanotechnology initiative will be successful.
When analyzing societal issues, nanotechnology is currently at a disadvantage. Since the technology is still in its infancy, no potential future technology can be absolutely dismissed as impractical or theoretically impossible. Predicted applications are diverse and ambitious, and most are not yet approaching realization. At this point in the development, there has been speculation about what will happen and what will not happen. As a result, the societal issues posed are currently so broad and hypothetical that it is difficult to address them adequately.
Therefore the awareness and acceptance of community on the new knowledge of nanotechnology is very important before any initiative such as project, product commercialization and investment launched. The community can be defined from policy maker, implementers, academician, researchers, businessman, consumer as well as students. The new knowledge either technology or innovation based always facing the problem of acceptance and awareness at all level of community or otherwise the Malaysian society. This research finding is very important to provide data of reference on awareness of Malaysian society and can be used to initiate nanotechnology policy and acceptance on various sectors as for instances, education, economic, local-based industry, as well as environmental.
