| A report published in C&EN in 2005 on nanotech terminology said this, “It's basically been a free-for-all in the world of nanotech terminology. Quantum dots, nanoshells, nanopeapods—nanoscientists have been inspired by everything from Polish dumplings to Inuit landmarks when naming new nanomaterials.” Three years since, the state of flux hasn't gone away, although several recent efforts have made the picture clearer and helped crystallize a rudimentary framework on nanotech nomenclature. The derivative area of science (and of nanotechnology), namely environmental sciences, has as usual displayed a phase lag in fructifying its nomenclature. Yet, the pace of progress is such that by the time this presentation finally lights up on the screen, the author's preliminary thoughts on the topic would be obsolete. Despite that, we will make an attempt to summarize the most recent approaches in nomenclature in environmental sciences. |