Take a random selection of scientists, engineers, investors and the general public and ask them what nanotechnology is and you would receive a range of replies as broad as nanotechnology itself. For many scientists, it is nothing startlingly new; after all we have been working at the nano-scale for decades, through electron microscopy, scanning probe microscopes or simply growing and analysing thin films. For most other groups, however, nanotechnology means something far more ambitious, miniature submarines in the bloodstream, little cogs and gears made out of atoms, space elevators made of nano-tubes, and the colonisation of space. It is no wonder people often muddle up nanotechnology with science fiction.

Despite unprecedented government funding and public interest in nanotechnology, few can accurately define the scope, range or potential applications of this technology. One of the most pressing issues facing nano-scientists and technologists today is that of communicating with the non-scientific community. As a result of decades of speculation, a number of myths have grown up around the field, making it difficult for the general public, or indeed the business and financial communities, to understand a fundamental shift in the way we look at our interactions with the natural world.

Looking At Nano particles -Scientists have been studying and working with nano-particles for centuries, but the effectiveness of their work has been hampered by their inability to see the structure of nano-particles. In recent decades, the development of microscopes capable of displaying particles as small as atoms has allowed scientists to see what they are working with.
The following illustration titled “The Scale of Things”, created by US Department of Energy, provides a comparison of various objects to help you begin to envision exactly how small a nanometer is. The chart starts with objects that can be seen by the unaided eye, such as an ant, at the top of the chart, and progresses to objects about a nanometer or less in size, such as the ATP molecule used in humans to store energy from food.

Now that you have an idea of how small a scale nanotechnologists work with, consider the challenge they face. Think about how difficult it is for many of us to insert thread through the eye of a needle. Such an image helps you imagine the problem scientists have working with nano-particles that can be as much as one millionth the size of the thread. Only through the use of powerful microscopes can they hope to ‘see’ and manipulate these nano-sized particles.

Nanotechnology Applications

The ability to see nano-sized materials has opened up a world of possibilities in a variety of industries and scientific endeavours. Because nanotechnology is essentially a set of techniques that allow manipulation of properties at a very small scale, it can have many applications, such as the ones listed below:

Nanotechnology Courses

Nano technology is a rather new phenomenon which not many people are aware of. It has been established into a separate academic field which aims to prepare individuals with the technical expertise regarding the development and modification of various devices with atomic precision. The training is for those devices in which the dimension of the particles is less than 100 nanometers.

Nano-electronics and nano devices make use of different established sciences such as physics, chemistry, biology, computer sciences and engineering. A number of important breakthroughs have been achieved using nano-technology in various domains such as designing stain repellent textiles, gene chip designing, automobile industry, nano crystal installation in bumps, space research organizations, nanostructured materials used in films etc.
Given the fact that nano-technology is a rather intricate field to work in, Indian institutes have developed an infrastructure that allows them to offer different courses in the field.

Different courses and their eligibility
One thing that you need to understand about nano-technology is that it is an inter-disciplinary subject. The eligibility criteria for nano-technology courses is rather high as only post graduates in different fields like physics, biology and chemistry can apply for these programmes. The basic programmes offered are M.Sc and M.Tech courses.
The main focus of nano-technology courses lies in the following areas:
1. The designing of electronic components along with special emphasis on power and dimension.
2. The designing of durable, cheaper and resistant materials.
3. The convergence of nanotechnology, generic medicine and development of a unique drug delivery system.
4. Understanding and developing techniques for tapping solar energy and also ways to increase in its power
5. The relation between nanotechnology and environmental science.

Some of the leading institutes offering nanotechnology courses in India are:
*Indian Institute of Science - Bangalore
*Jawaharlal Nehru Center for Advanced Scientific Research -Bangalore
*Solid State Physics Laboratory -Delhi
*National Physical Laboratory  - Delhi
*National Chemical Laboratory  - Pune
*Central Scientific Instruments Organization - Chandigarh
*Indian Institutes of Technology
*Amity Institute of Nano-technology - Noida
*Centre for Nano Science Technology & Institute of Science and Technology - *Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University – Hyderabad -Offers an Advanced P.G Program in M.Sc Nano Science & Technology for all Degree holders in all disciplines of Sciences / Mathematics/ Computer Sciences/ Electronics etc.

Scope for nano-technologists
Individuals who have specialised in nanotechnology can offer their services to various industries ranging from agriculture, medicine, teaching, genetics and environment industry. Furthermore one can seek employment in bio-technology, forensic sciences and even space research. Since India is a rapidly developing as a nation there are tons of job opportunities for nanotechnologists which are even more likely to grow.

Nanotechnology Debate
There are many different points of view about nanotechnology. These differences start with the definition of nanotechnology. Some define it as any activity that involves manipulating materials between one nanometer and 100 nanometers. However the original definition of nanotechnology involved building machines at the molecular scale and involves the manipulation of materials on an atomic (about two-tenths of a nanometer) scale.

The debate continues with varying opinions about exactly what nanotechnology can achieve. Some researchers believe nanotechnology can be used to significantly extend the human lifespan or produce replicator-like devices that can create almost anything from simple raw materials. Others see nanotechnology only as a tool to help us do what we do now, but faster or better.

The third major area of debate concerns the time-frame of nanotechnology-related advances. Will nanotechnology have a significant impact on our day-to-day lives in a decade or two, or will many of these promised advances take considerably longer to become realities?

Finally, all the opinions about what nanotechnology can help us achieve echo with ethical challenges. If nanotechnology helps us to increase our life spans or produce manufactured goods from inexpensive raw materials, what is the moral imperative about making such technology available to all? Is there sufficient understanding or regulation of nanotech based materials to minimise possible harm to us or our environment?
Only time will tell how nanotechnology will affect our lives.

Conclusion

Nano-science and nano-technology, like any other knowledge and associated practices that were developed in the past, is getting shaped by scientific, technological, economic and cultural forces. Different sections – enthusiasts and Skeptics – of this new technology are engaged in a debate about the degree of desirability of this technology from different value-premises and interpretations of the new techno science. In the Western countries research on ELSE dimensions (Ethical, Legal, Social & Environmental issues) of nano-science and nanotechnology has been recognised as a legitimate field of inquiry. Research on social, economic, environmental and health effects of nano-science and nanotechnology, and risks associated with this new technology and regulatory norms have been initiated with adequate funding. In India, similar evaluations of nano-science and nanotechnology have not been taken up yet. The nano-science and nanotechnology community in India, except a few members, does not seem to appreciate the ELSE issues relating to nanotechnology adequately.

The nano-science and nanotechnology community seems to put relatively greater emphasis on economic benefits than on social and environmental implications of nano-science and nanotechnology. Inter-disciplinary research involving natural sciences and social sciences with a dispassionate spirit of inquiry that characterises the ethos of science would provide insights relevant for policy– practice dynamics.
In order to gain the trust of the public and for better regulation of the technology and following Fiorino’s scheme of various kinds of arguments, issues like risks and ethics have to be debated and a consensus has to be arrived at in the context of the development of nano-science and nanotechnology in India. Although in India Research in the area of nano-science and nanotechnology had started 15 years ago, till now there is no significant study conducted in the area of social, cultural, ethical and environmental implications of nanotechnology. Other countries, like the US, have already started spending for environmental and health implications research. For example, in 2004 the federal funding accounted for US$ 8.5 million and in 2006 it became US$ 38.5 million21. Therefore, we believe that the need of the hour is to conduct studies on the ELSE issues of nano-science and nanotechnology in India, objectively. These studies may be useful to build approximate scenarios on the basis of different sets of assumptions about the nature of nano-science and nanotechnology and the related ELSE issues. Given the
far-reaching implications, there is also a need to establish a broad-based, transparent regulatory body which would take into account research inputs drawn from several scientific disciplines, including social sciences. It is worthwhile to create a research cell in the nano-science and nanotechnology mission (Nanomission) that addresses the ELSE issues and earmarks funding for research on them.

Imperfections are perfect