Foresight Nanotechnology FAQ
About Foresight Institute
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About Foresight Institute |
Founded in 1986 by K. Eric Drexler, Christine Peterson, and James Bennett, Foresight's goal is to guide emerging technologies to improve the human condition. Foresight focuses its efforts upon nanotechnology, the coming ability to build materials and products with atomic precision, and upon systems that will enhance knowledge exchange and critical discussion, thus improving public and private policy decisions.
Foresight Institute is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible in the US to the full extent provided by law. |
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23. Where do I sign up?
You may join Foresight Institute as a regular member, which entitles you to a subscription to our quarterly Foresight Update, a major source of news on developments in molecular nanotechnology. Information is available at: http://www.foresight.org/about/RegMemb.html.
If you wish to participate in our exclusive gatherings, where key industry leaders meet to discuss the promise and potentials of nanotechnology, we encourage you to join Foresight as a Senior Associate. See the information on this program at: http://www.foresight.org/SrAssoc/index.html.
If neither of these appeals to you, you may also join our organization and receive our free electronic newsletter, which is prepared on a quarterly basis. Fill out the form at http://www.foresight.org/about/FEMform.html to activate your subscription to this newsletter.
24. Foresight Privacy Statement
Forsight's privacy policy, updated April 15, 2005, is available here.
25. Foresight Press Policy
Foresight Institute is a non-profit organization committed to the safe development of molecular nanotechnology and other emerging technologies, which may be used to improve the human condition. We hold two different types of meetings each year. One is our technical conference, typically held late in the year. The other is our Senior Associate Gathering, which is held in the spring.
Foresight works closely with journalists year-round, providing orientation, pointers to experts, and free registration to our technical conference. This conference has no restrictions with regard to publishing of the content presented at the meeting. Interviews with presenters may be arranged upon request, though any specific copyrights or trademarks must be protected.
Our organizational policy of openness has been modified for the Senior Associate Gatherings, which are the meetings exclusively held for and attended by Foresight donors. Journalists may attend these events, but they must first join the organization as Senior Associates. Registration fees are not waived for journalists attending these events. The Gatherings are "off-the-record" for press coverage. We request that any press persons attending not publish coverage of event content.
It's a great place to get background, however, and many participants are happy to give interviews on the side, as long as such "on-the-record" conversations are clearly demarcated.
Reasons for this selective "off-the-record" policy include:
- Participants are encouraged to explore controversial issues, often testing out positions they will soon abandon. This exploration would be greatly inhibited by the anticipation of press coverage of intermediate positions;
- Even with considerable care, it's hard to keep these controversial issues from being accidentally taken out of context;
- Many participants hold spokesperson roles in their organizations, so their personal views are likely to be misinterpreted as the organizations' official positions, regardless of how clearly they are identified otherwise.
We've been told that press members find substantial benefit in attending without doing formal coverage — they are able to participate fully in the event, without having to continually distance themselves from the process and play the role of observer.
Members of the press are encouraged to join as full participants and as Senior Associates, registering for the Senior Associate events using the standard process.
We look forward to welcoming you into our community!
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