Donnie Maclurcan

Don Maclurcan
Donnie Maclurcan is a PhD candidate assessing the extent to which nanotechnology creates new possibilities or imposes new demands for developing countries.

Donnie's 2004 case study involved an extended visit to Bangkok where he met with science, technology, health and policy experts. He is a past member of the nanotechnology-focussed Global Implications and Policy Taskforce and current member of the International Nanotechnology and Society Network. His work has been presented at the United Nations Expert Group Meeting: North-South Dialogue on Nanotechnology (Italy), the 2nd International Workshop on Nanotechnology and Healthcare (India) and translated and published by both the prestigious Chinese Academy of Science and the Iranian Nanotechnology Initiative.

Donnie's professional background and training is in exercise physiology and freelance journalism, having worked in both Africa and Asia. Currently, Donnie is Executive Director of Project Australia - an independent, nationwide network that connects Australians to new ideas, people, and projects.

In 2006, Donnie self-published a Case Study for Australian secondary schools 'The Sinking of the SIEV X', now in its 2nd edition, that investigates the drowning of 353 asylum seekers on their way to Australia. Donnie has also been a volunteer coordinator with St Vincent De Paul's Night Patrol and telephone counsellor with Lifeline Australia.

As a teenager, Donnie placed 6th (u/18) at the Laser Radial World Championships in Morocco, 1st in IRC Division B of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race and achieved the Guinness World Record for the fastest journey on foot across Australia, raising more than $35000 for sight-restoring work of The Fred Hollows Foundation, and awareness for Year of the Outback. He remains an Ambassador for both causes.

Selected publications

D. C. Maclurcan 2006, "Molecular Manufacturing and the Developing World: Looking to Nanotechnology For Answers", Nanotechnology Perspectives, Collegium Basilea, Vol 2, No 1b.

D. C. Maclurcan 2005, "Nanotechnology and Developing Countries - Part A: What Possibilities?" AzoNano Online Journal of Nanotechnology http://www.azonano.com/Details.asp?ArticleID=1428

D. C. Maclurcan 2005, "Nanotechnology and Developing Countries - Part B: What Realities?" AzoNano Online Journal of Nanotechnology, http://www.azonano.com/Details.asp?ArticleID=1429

D. C. Maclurcan, M. J. Ford, M. B. Cortie and D. Ghosh, "Medical Nanotechnology and Developing Nations", in Proceedings of the Asia Pacific Nanotechnology Forum 2003, World Scientific Publishing Co., Singapore, 2004, pp. 165-172.

D. C. Maclurcan, M. J. Ford, M. B. Cortie, "The Confusion Surrounding Nanotechnology" Materials Engineering e-Newsletter, Institute of Materials Engineering Australasia, pp.7-8, April 2004, available: http://www.mateng.asn.au/State_Branches/NSW/newsletters/Apr04.pdf