Books by Donnie Maclurcan
The rise of collaborative consumption, peer-to-peer systems, and not-for-profit social enterprise... more The rise of collaborative consumption, peer-to-peer systems, and not-for-profit social enterprise heralds the emergence of a new era of human collectivity. Increasingly, this consolidation stems from an understanding that big-banner issues—such as climate change—are not the root causes of our present global predicament. There is a growing and collective view that issues such as this are actually symptoms of a much more vicious, seemingly insurmountable condition: our addiction to economic, consumption, and population growth in a world of finite resources.
Nanotechnology and Global Sustainability uses nanotechnology—the product of applied scientific knowledge to control and utilize matter at atomic and molecular scales—as a lens through which to explore the interrelationship between innovation, politics, economy, and sustainability. This groundbreaking book addresses how stakeholders can actively reshape agendas to create positive and sustainable futures through this latest controversial, cross-sectoral technology. It moves beyond issues of efficiency, productivity, and utility, exploring the insights of 22 contributors from around the world, whose work spans the disciplines of science and the humanities. Their combined knowledge, reinforced with various case studies, introduces an exciting prospect—how we can innovate without economic growth.
This new volume in the Perspectives in Nanotechnology series is edited by Dr. Donald Maclurcan and Dr. Natalia Radywyl. Dr. Maclurcan is a social innovator and Honorary Research Fellow with the Institute for Nanoscale Technology at the University of Technology Sydney, Australia. Dr. Radywyl is a social researcher and Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Culture and Communication at the University of Melbourne, Australia. She is also an Adjunct Research Fellow in the Faculty of Life and Social Sciences at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne. This book is written for a wide audience and will be of particular interest to activists, scholars, policy makers, scientists, business professionals, and others who seek an understanding of how we might justly transition to sustainable societies.
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The book places nanotechnology’s emergence within a broad historical and contemporary global cont... more The book places nanotechnology’s emergence within a broad historical and contemporary global context while developing and testing an interpretive framework through which to assess nanotechnology’s claims. It clarifies the nature of global engagement with nanotechnology research and development, revealing surprising scenarios, unacknowledged by most mainstream commentators. The book concludes by exploring a range of perspectives from Thailand and Australia about nanotechnology’s foreseen implications for global inequity.
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On 19 October, 2001, a small boat (now known as the SIEV X) carrying over 400, mostly Iraqi and A... more On 19 October, 2001, a small boat (now known as the SIEV X) carrying over 400, mostly Iraqi and Afghani, would-be-asylum-seekers bound for Australia, sank in waters between Indonesia and Australia’s Christmas Island. Three hundred and fifty three people - mostly women and children - drowned.
The Sinking of the SIEV X provides an entry point and focus for secondary school students of Modern History to study an issue relevant to Australia’s recent history.
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Papers by Donnie Maclurcan
Oz NANO 03 - Proceedings of the Asia Pacific Nanotechnology Forum 2003, 2004
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NanoEthics, 2009
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Science Technology & Society, 2008
The possibility that nanotechnology will turn into an instrument to aid development or alleviate ... more The possibility that nanotechnology will turn into an instrument to aid development or alleviate poverty has been discussed explicitly in academic circles, at meetings held by international bodies, and in non-governmental organisations since 1997. The different positions on the role that it can play in the process reflect particular interpretations of the relationship between science, technology and society. We divide the arguments expressed in this discussion in two broad groups. One can be identified as the instrumental position, which emphasises the technical capacity of nanotechnologies to solve poverty problems and spur development. The other group of arguments can be identified as the contextual position by emphasising the social context wherein technology is produced, used and adapted. We summarise and analyse the main arguments in the debate on nanotechnologies, development and poverty. We consider the most influent opinions from organisations, institutions and meetings, pre...
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TECHNOSCIENCE IN PROGRESS: MANAGING THE UNCERTAINTY OF NANOTECHNOLOGY, 2009
Abstract: In the Global North, confusion, hype and disagreement plague nanotechnology debates. In... more Abstract: In the Global North, confusion, hype and disagreement plague nanotechnology debates. In the meantime, the debate about the Global South's engagement with nanotechnology has forged ahead, assuming common understandings about what nanotechnology is and what it is not, as well as the general irrelevance of definitional debates. This despite evidence that nanotechnology is being presented in a conflicting manner in the literature, through mixed terminology and imagery, and that little has been ...
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Drawing on search-engine data gained from combining the term ‘nano’ with the title of every econo... more Drawing on search-engine data gained from combining the term ‘nano’ with the title of every economy recognised by the World Bank, the research to be described here highlights a widespread developing country engagement with nanotechnology research and development. Subsequent investigation reveals that the orientation of developing country engagement is distant from nanotechnology’s ‘social development’ applications, often cited as most applicable to developing countries. The ability of less-developed countries to engage with nanotechnology R&D is explored along with current mechanisms to facilitate partnerships and access to information. The additional analysis of health-related patents confirms that the ‘nano-divide’ is already here. With China constituting the bulk of patents from the South, the divide is not just between the developed and developing world, it extends to within the developing world. An assessment of participation in international nanotechnology policy and dialogue ...
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If nanotechnology is to play an appropriate role in addressing the health-related challenges face... more If nanotechnology is to play an appropriate role in addressing the health-related challenges faced the world's poorest people in the 21st Century, there will need to be a much greater focus on some of the more equitable ways in which it can be developed.
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Background Abstract In recent times, nanotechnology has been included in a number of the debates ... more Background Abstract In recent times, nanotechnology has been included in a number of the debates considering emerging technology and developing countries. However, the literature considering nanotechnology's application to the developing world has often varied in its interpretation of what nanotechnology really is. Furthermore, despite a wide range of perspectives as to the relevance, appropriateness and potential impact of nanotechnology for developing countries, the key debates have often remained disengaged. This paper attempts to clarify understandings of nanotechnology and synthesize discussions on issues of relevance, appropriateness and distribution with respect to developing countries. In support, recent developments in nanotechnology and healthcare are provided.
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In the early morning of October 18, 2001, over 400 asylum seekers boarded an Indonesian fishing v... more In the early morning of October 18, 2001, over 400 asylum seekers boarded an Indonesian fishing vessel that has become known as the Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel 'X'(SIEV X), at a point near Bandar Lampung, Indonesia. The trip had been organised by a number of “people-smugglers” and was set to take the passengers to Australia's Christmas Island.
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Living Ethics: Newsletter of the St. James Ethics Centre, 2010
Abstract: Microcredit has been shown to be an effective way to help the world's poor create ... more Abstract: Microcredit has been shown to be an effective way to help the world's poor create sustainable small business opportunities. But Donnie Maclurcan asks whether the concept helps us reach long-term sustainability outcomes. ... To cite this article: Maclurcan, Donnie. Social Business and the Limits to Growth [online]. Living Ethics: Newsletter of the St. James Ethics Centre, No. 82, Summer 2010: 13. Availability: <http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn= 796150577068729;res=IELHSS> ISSN: 1444-6545. [cited 05 Jan 12].
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The Third Sector as Civil Society in …, Jun 9, 2010
Unless an idea has a registered, incorporated identity, Deductible Gift Recipient status, or is p... more Unless an idea has a registered, incorporated identity, Deductible Gift Recipient status, or is proposed by an extremely driven, resilient and networked individual/team, it is often extremely difficult to gain credibility, volunteers, advice or financial support to get an idea 'off the ground'. Our research shows that many grassroots initiatives quickly fail beyond the initial 'spark', or operate in isolation due to lack of opportunities to skills-and knowledge-share, thereby failing to capitalise upon already established Australian resources.
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How do you recognise a social entrepreneur? There is much contestation on whether social entrepre... more How do you recognise a social entrepreneur? There is much contestation on whether social entrepreneurs exhibit particular characteristics. This seminar reports on a small scale study conducted in Sydney, which reported on how three young social entrepreneurs and others involved in the development of entrepreneurial projects aimed at positive social change conceptualise the social entrepreneur. The seminar will provide personal insights into how young social entrepreneurs perceive themselves through the projects that they have ...
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Azojono Journal of Nanotechnology on line. http://www. azonano. com/Details. asp, 2007
Nanotechnologies promise to be the foundation of the next industrial revolution. What role can th... more Nanotechnologies promise to be the foundation of the next industrial revolution. What role can they play in abating poverty and inequity in the world? This question has been raised, directly or indirectly, by various authors and institutions since the year 2000, when nanotechnology came to be the focus of government research programs, primarily in the developed world but also in countries in the process of development.
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Not-for-profit business structures and the not-for-profit ethic are essential components of any ... more Not-for-profit business structures and the not-for-profit ethic are essential components of any viable path to a post-growth economy. In this paper the authors present a summary of the Not-for-Profit World economic model they're currently developing.
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A new era of human collectivity is emerging. Born of desire, fear, sensibility, and ingenuity, it... more A new era of human collectivity is emerging. Born of desire, fear, sensibility, and ingenuity, it rides on the back of past struggles and our increasing capacity to share information across the globe. 1 The individualistic milieu that epitomized neoliberal structures of the previous four decades is beginning to change form. A common, underlying goal is progressively connecting us to one another: a desire to better the present as a means to secure viable futures on this planet.
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Books by Donnie Maclurcan
Nanotechnology and Global Sustainability uses nanotechnology—the product of applied scientific knowledge to control and utilize matter at atomic and molecular scales—as a lens through which to explore the interrelationship between innovation, politics, economy, and sustainability. This groundbreaking book addresses how stakeholders can actively reshape agendas to create positive and sustainable futures through this latest controversial, cross-sectoral technology. It moves beyond issues of efficiency, productivity, and utility, exploring the insights of 22 contributors from around the world, whose work spans the disciplines of science and the humanities. Their combined knowledge, reinforced with various case studies, introduces an exciting prospect—how we can innovate without economic growth.
This new volume in the Perspectives in Nanotechnology series is edited by Dr. Donald Maclurcan and Dr. Natalia Radywyl. Dr. Maclurcan is a social innovator and Honorary Research Fellow with the Institute for Nanoscale Technology at the University of Technology Sydney, Australia. Dr. Radywyl is a social researcher and Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Culture and Communication at the University of Melbourne, Australia. She is also an Adjunct Research Fellow in the Faculty of Life and Social Sciences at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne. This book is written for a wide audience and will be of particular interest to activists, scholars, policy makers, scientists, business professionals, and others who seek an understanding of how we might justly transition to sustainable societies.
The Sinking of the SIEV X provides an entry point and focus for secondary school students of Modern History to study an issue relevant to Australia’s recent history.
Papers by Donnie Maclurcan
Nanotechnology and Global Sustainability uses nanotechnology—the product of applied scientific knowledge to control and utilize matter at atomic and molecular scales—as a lens through which to explore the interrelationship between innovation, politics, economy, and sustainability. This groundbreaking book addresses how stakeholders can actively reshape agendas to create positive and sustainable futures through this latest controversial, cross-sectoral technology. It moves beyond issues of efficiency, productivity, and utility, exploring the insights of 22 contributors from around the world, whose work spans the disciplines of science and the humanities. Their combined knowledge, reinforced with various case studies, introduces an exciting prospect—how we can innovate without economic growth.
This new volume in the Perspectives in Nanotechnology series is edited by Dr. Donald Maclurcan and Dr. Natalia Radywyl. Dr. Maclurcan is a social innovator and Honorary Research Fellow with the Institute for Nanoscale Technology at the University of Technology Sydney, Australia. Dr. Radywyl is a social researcher and Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Culture and Communication at the University of Melbourne, Australia. She is also an Adjunct Research Fellow in the Faculty of Life and Social Sciences at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne. This book is written for a wide audience and will be of particular interest to activists, scholars, policy makers, scientists, business professionals, and others who seek an understanding of how we might justly transition to sustainable societies.
The Sinking of the SIEV X provides an entry point and focus for secondary school students of Modern History to study an issue relevant to Australia’s recent history.
This paper seeks to discover the state of US credit union capabilities with respect to business banking services. After creating a classification for the level of US credit union business banking capabilities, we conducted informal, semi-structured interviews with a small sample of key stakeholders from the US credit union industry in order to provide insights into the nature of existing US credit union business banking capabilities.
Since US credit unions have been shown to provide direct economic benefits from consumer banking, along with a positive track record for small businesses, we are interested in credit unions’ potential to serve larger businesses beyond the provision of loans. Given that businesses have higher average deposits than consumers, there is potential for shifting significant resources from banks to credit unions.
Our findings suggest that while many US credit unions offer Basic Business Services, and some US credit unions offer Semi-comprehensive Business Services, no US credit union offers Comprehensive Business Services. We discovered three main factors holding back the development of these commercial capabilities: mission constraints; lack of apparent business demand; and lack of a strong business case according to a cost-benefit risk analysis. These factors appear to reinforce each other in a vicious cycle.
However, these factors may also present points of leverage for those seeking to expand business service capabilities within the US credit union system. For example, if weak business demand stems from an absence of targeted marketing to the private sector, a campaign to document pledged allegiance could reverse this phenomena. Indeed, we see strategic interventions at one of the three points offering the ability to shift the system from a vicious cycle to a virtuous one.
This paper seeks to discover the state of US credit union capabilities with respect to business banking services. After creating a classification for the level of US credit union business banking capabilities, we conducted informal, semi-structured interviews with a small sample of key stakeholders from the US credit union industry in order to provide insights into the nature of existing US credit union business banking capabilities.
Since US credit unions have been shown to provide direct economic benefits from consumer banking, along with a positive track record for small businesses, we are interested in credit unions’ potential to serve larger businesses beyond the provision of loans. Given that businesses have higher average deposits than consumers, there is potential for shifting significant resources from banks to credit unions.
Our findings suggest that while many US credit unions offer Basic Business Services, and some US credit unions offer Semi-comprehensive Business Services, no US credit union offers Comprehensive Business Services. We discovered three main factors holding back the development of these commercial capabilities: mission constraints; lack of apparent business demand; and lack of a strong business case according to a cost-benefit risk analysis. These factors appear to reinforce each other in a vicious cycle.
However, these factors may also present points of leverage for those seeking to expand business service capabilities within the US credit union system. For example, if weak business demand stems from an absence of targeted marketing to the private sector, a campaign to document pledged allegiance could reverse this phenomena. Indeed, we see strategic interventions at one of the three points offering the ability to shift the system from a vicious cycle to a virtuous one.