David R. Forrest, Sc.D., P.E.

Nanotechnology Policy Work

Dr. David Forrest has performed technology and policy analysis of nanosystems and their consequences since 1985. He is currently a Technology Manager in the Advanced Manufacturing Office at the Department of Energy, managing a portfolio of projects in Clean Energy Manufacturing--including magnesium die casting, freeform sheet metal forming, ironmaking, advanced membranes, advanced conductors, and AMO's SBIR-STTR program. He is former President of the Institute for Molecular Manufacturing and volunteers as Senior Fellow, Standards, with the Foresight Institute. He has served as a member of the Technical Advisory Group to ANSI on the ISO Technical Committee on Nanotechnologies (TC/229) since 2005. He earned his doctorate degree in materials engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
  • Co-authored a Foresight/IMM policy brief for the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (2010)
  • As a member of the Working Group of the Foresight/Battelle Technology Roadmap for Productive Nanosystems, contributed key sections on molecular machine development, diamondoid mechanosynthesis, and near-term applications (2007)
  • Presented briefing to U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works: Roundtable discussion with other Nanotechnology Stakeholders on applications affecting infrastructure, health, safety, and environment (2006)
  • Presented at IDA (2007) and DTSA (2005) on advances in Molecular Manufacturing for Defense
  • Presented a talk on "Transport Phenomena in Nanomechanical Systems for Molecular Manufacturing," at the Sohn International Symposium, held 27-31 August 2006, San Diego, CA.
  • Prepared a policy paper for ASM International on how advances in molecular manufacturing will change materials technology; provided recommendations for re-aligning the society with expected advances (2005)
  • Presented briefing at the National Academies on the feasibility of molecular manufacturing (2005)
  • Keynote speaker at Ecotextile 04 in Manchester, UK. (2004)
  • Reviewer of National Academies Report, "Nanotechnology for the Intelligence Community" (2003- 2004)
  • Member, Board of Advisors for the original Nanotechnology Opportunity Report published by CMP/Cientifica in 2002.
  • Organized a session on Nanomaterials at ASM's MatSol 2001. (2001)
  • Organized a session on Molecular Manufacturing at ASM's MatSol 2000 in Saint Louis. (2000)
  • Presented an invited seminar on the future of nanotechnology in the textile industry at the Industrial Fabric Association International's Discover Expo '95.
  • Wrote the first paper on the Regulation of Nanotechnology Development (1989)
  • Prepared a technology assessment of molecular computing for Digital Equipment Corp. (1988)