When I began researching nanotechnology policy back in 2004 one of the first things to catch my attention was the impassioned plea for a nanoparticle moratoria. Over the next seven years I kept track of the calls to place a moratorium on almost every emerging technology that has followed. Now to be fair, I support much of what these civil society groups argue for, and have collaborated on projects with members of these un-named groups. But it turns out you can only read so many calls for moratoria before they become a bit repetitious. So what follows here is fun lunchtime exercise with co-workers. For those who have never done a Mad-Lib the game is simple, one person asks for words to fill in the blank, described by what’s in the parenthesis, without describing any other context for the word or term. After the form is filled out, read it back and laugh heartily. Have fun!
-ira bennett
P.S. Please post your most entertaining versions in the comments section.
News Release: Civil Society Organizations to Intergovernmental Panel on _________________ (big problem): Take _____________ (technological intervention) off the Table!
Today, 125 international and national organizations, representing at least ____ (number) countries from all continents, sent an open letter to the Intergovernmental Panel on _______________________ (big problem), demanding a clear statement of its commitment to precaution and to the existing international moratorium on ____________________ (technological intervention). The Intergovernmental Panel will hold an expert meeting on 20-22 June in _________________ (Capital of Developing Country).
Climate ______________ (verb) has been on the radar of ____________ (adjective) Northern governments for decades. Originally conceived as a military strategy, ____________ (Earth system) manipulation has been rebranded as _______________________ (techno-conjunction).
The U.S. and UK governments appear especially open to the prospect of ______________ (technological disaster), which is no surprise, according to ______________________ (Name of ETC employee) of the ETC Group: “It’s a convenient way for Northern governments to dodge their commitments to ________________(something liberals love). But the _____________ (noun) is a complex system; manipulating it in one place could have grave environmental, social and economic impacts."
“As the world watched the Australian _____________ (type of global business) industry thrown into chaos this week by ____________ (natural hazard) from Chile, it’s absurd that the Intergovernmental Panel is considering how to do the same thing on purpose. The potential for unilateralism and ___________ (something conservatives love) is great; the likelihood that ___________ (techno-conjunction) will provide a safe, lasting, democratic and peaceful solution to the crisis is miniscule,” said _____________ (ethnic sounding name), of Costa and Friends of the Planet International, detained in Buenos Aires due to the crisis.
La _________ ____________ (two Spanish words), the world’s largest small-scale farmers network, is concerned that the impacts of ___________________ (planetary system) manipulation on agriculture would be felt particularly by _________________ (synonym for poor people) in the South and that tinkering with the __________________ (planetary feature) could destroy the livelihoods of thousands of ______________ (a job). The network argues, “___________________ (technological intervention) is a false solution to _____________ (big problem) and so _______________ (hyperbole) to nature and to the world’s people, it should be banned.”
About the author: Ira Bennett is an Assistant Research Professor with CSPO and the Center for Nanotechnology in Society. When not developing MadLibs, he studies policies and politics of emerging technologies specifically nanotechnologies. His focus is on educational programs in nanotechnology in society, and skill sets not traditionally included in science and engineering graduate education, such as societal aspects and communicating with the public.
-ira bennett
P.S. Please post your most entertaining versions in the comments section.
The Emerging Technology Cacophony (ETC) Moratorium Mad-lib
News Release: Civil Society Organizations to Intergovernmental Panel on _________________ (big problem): Take _____________ (technological intervention) off the Table!
Today, 125 international and national organizations, representing at least ____ (number) countries from all continents, sent an open letter to the Intergovernmental Panel on _______________________ (big problem), demanding a clear statement of its commitment to precaution and to the existing international moratorium on ____________________ (technological intervention). The Intergovernmental Panel will hold an expert meeting on 20-22 June in _________________ (Capital of Developing Country).
Climate ______________ (verb) has been on the radar of ____________ (adjective) Northern governments for decades. Originally conceived as a military strategy, ____________ (Earth system) manipulation has been rebranded as _______________________ (techno-conjunction).
The U.S. and UK governments appear especially open to the prospect of ______________ (technological disaster), which is no surprise, according to ______________________ (Name of ETC employee) of the ETC Group: “It’s a convenient way for Northern governments to dodge their commitments to ________________(something liberals love). But the _____________ (noun) is a complex system; manipulating it in one place could have grave environmental, social and economic impacts."
“As the world watched the Australian _____________ (type of global business) industry thrown into chaos this week by ____________ (natural hazard) from Chile, it’s absurd that the Intergovernmental Panel is considering how to do the same thing on purpose. The potential for unilateralism and ___________ (something conservatives love) is great; the likelihood that ___________ (techno-conjunction) will provide a safe, lasting, democratic and peaceful solution to the crisis is miniscule,” said _____________ (ethnic sounding name), of Costa and Friends of the Planet International, detained in Buenos Aires due to the crisis.
La _________ ____________ (two Spanish words), the world’s largest small-scale farmers network, is concerned that the impacts of ___________________ (planetary system) manipulation on agriculture would be felt particularly by _________________ (synonym for poor people) in the South and that tinkering with the __________________ (planetary feature) could destroy the livelihoods of thousands of ______________ (a job). The network argues, “___________________ (technological intervention) is a false solution to _____________ (big problem) and so _______________ (hyperbole) to nature and to the world’s people, it should be banned.”
About the author: Ira Bennett is an Assistant Research Professor with CSPO and the Center for Nanotechnology in Society. When not developing MadLibs, he studies policies and politics of emerging technologies specifically nanotechnologies. His focus is on educational programs in nanotechnology in society, and skill sets not traditionally included in science and engineering graduate education, such as societal aspects and communicating with the public.
