For my first post I think it would be helpful to explain my project here at the Center for Nanotechnology in Society (CNS) at UCSB. My project this summer is to create a comparative nanotechnology policy framework through the collection of data on the policies, frameworks, and action plans of other industrialized countries. My Mentor and I want to figure out how these countries’ governments are creating an innovative environment for nanotechnology, how they fund research and development, what kind of funding processes they use, and what kind of regulatory framework they create/develop? The relationship between industry and bureaucracy is an important component of this: how is industry involved in the policy making process and how responsive is bureaucracy to the needs of industry? This research process has been a learning curve for me, because subjects like political science and economics were not my original source of study in school, but I’ve really enjoyed learning how to evolve my mind to think in this different way. It is particularly helpful when the other interns and I get together with our mentors and discuss what we had read and discovered over the past weeks. The people I work with are all very welcoming and enthusiastic and are more than happy to help if I have any questions. I find that my fellow interns and mentor are all very friendly, which makes it easy to feel at ease in the work place. Not only are the people that I work with directly great, but also the whole INSET staff can be very hospitable and helpful. Everyone just wants to see you succeed. I am very excited to continue my research and work at CNS and INSET this summer!