CEDENNA prepares first online course on Nanosafety.
Nanotechnology is involved in the design, production and use of structures and objects at the nanometer scale, enabling advances with far-reaching repercussions for society. However, manufactured nanoparticles can have very different effects on the body and the environment, generating new risks for the health of humans and other species.
CEDENNA’s Nanosafety research group, led by Professor Mauricio Escudey, prepared an e-learning course aimed at raising the necessary alerts in this area and supporting the development of the expected learning outcomes for the nanoscience and nanotechnology program.
The initiative includes specially designed teaching materials, bibliography, scientific articles, supporting content and assessments in each module. The research team, which began its work in this area four years ago, has consolidated over the last two years as a Nanosafety Unit (NU), structured and organized to carry out its activities within the center as well as nationally and internationally, since CEDENNA members began taking part as Chile’s representatives in the OECD’s technical Nanosafety meetings.
The first laboratory (Bionanoassays) is currently undergoing certification with INN, while a second laboratory for environmental nanoparticles is being installed, including equipment obtained through the first FONDEQUIP project awarded under CEDENNA’s sole sponsorship.
“We are concerned about internal nanosafety, and that is why we have developed an online course, which will be available internally from January 2021. We hope soon to be able to extend it to all industries that use or generate nanoparticles in their processes, so that Chile can join the countries with the best international safety standards in this field,” stressed Dr. Escudey.
