Ken Dozier, Executive Director of the USC ETTC, has been named to the newly formed California Blue Ribbon Task Force on Nanotechnology. Dozier is one of forty selected for membership on the task force. Dozier will serve on the Policy and Ethics subcommittee. Other task force subcommittees include Research and Development, Education, Commercialization and Facilities/Infrastructure.

The task force was initiated by California congressman Mike Honda and California State Controller Steve Westly, who will serve as Honorary Co-Chairs of the group. Scott Hubbard, Director of NASA’s Ames Research Center, will be the acting Chair responsible for driving task force activities.

From Silicon Valley and the Bay Area and throughout Southern California, the task force charter is to promote all of California as the national and worldwide center for nanotechnology research, development and commercialization. The primary objective of the task force is to help develop a regional nanotechnology economic development initiative. The task force will document its work in one or more white papers that analyze the direction and state of nanotechnology, and propose specific recommendations that will position California as the national and worldwide center for nanotechnology research, development and commercialization.

Task force members represent the breadth of stakeholder groups in California nanotechnology, including research, education, industry, technology transfer, government, funding, ethics, professional services, non-profits, industry associations and medical.

Dozier commented, “This is a very powerful group and it is an honor to be on the policy subcommittee. Representative Honda has provided a real service to California and has put a powerful team together, along with Steve Westly and Scott Hubbard, that will ensure success.”