Patti Glaza, CEO of Small Times Media, comments on molecular manufacturing and the Drexler/Smalley debate in her Sept. 2005 column. Titled “Even at loggerheads, great minds inspire us to dream grandly”, the column was inspired by an SPIE conference where Drexler gave a plenary talk in place of Smalley, who was unable to attend for medical reasons:
“Smalley and Drexler are both visionaries and have contributed significantly to the field of nanotechnology…Both men share a desire to make a positive impact on the world…At the SPIE Conference, I gave a talk on nanotechnology applications in the market today. I asked the mostly technical audience if they believed molecular manufacturing would be a reality in the next 20 to 30 years. About half said yes, and half said no. Fortunately, the debate on molecular manufacturing isn’t likely to end any time soon.
“Why fortunately? Because this is the kind of debate that gets the blood boiling, the mind spinning and the younger generation inspired. In a world of ever-increasing population, pollution and limited resources, we need dreams to drive research and development. Nanotechnology has captured the imagination of the general public and we would be foolish not to take advantage of the momentum currently behind it.”
The column doesn’t seem to be posted on their site, but we are requesting this. [UPDATE: it’s now online, with the author’s new title of Vice President and Group Publisher now that Small Times has been purchased.] —CP
