Philippe Van Nedervelde has represented the Foresight Nanotech Institute in Europe since 1997. Reflecting his active concern for maximizing the upside and minimizing the possible downsides of powerful emerging technologies and nanotechnology in particular, in 1999, as an active member of the Monterey Working Group on Molecular Nanotechnology (MNT) Research Policy Guidelines, Philippe co-authored the Foresight Guidelines on Molecular Nanotechnology. The guidelines were a proposed self-regulation tool for the nanoscience field and the burgeoning nanotechnology industry, intended to assure that research, development and market deployments in this rapidly developing field proceed safely and responsibly.
With the benefit of the perspective of his military experience regarding defensive strategies against WMDs, Philippe completed Special Officer-Training in Nuclear-Biological-Chemical (NBC) weapons, defense & countermeasures in his capacity of Belgian Army Reserves Officer. Philippe holds a master's degree in communication as well as a post-graduate degree in Media and Information Science from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium.