Nanotechnology Institute to focus on the world of molecular devices

Emily M. Smith
ASME NEWS

NEW ORLEANS — Recognizing the increasing impact of nanotechnology on engineering and science, ASME's Board of Governors last month approved Development Funding for a virtual institute — a clearinghouse for ASME's nanotechnology related activities.

Operating as a virtually Web-based institute, its aim will be providing international forums for technology transfer in the design, synthesis, manipulation and control of nanoscale systems — technologies at the level of atoms and molecules that have applications in the real world.

The goals of the Institute are to support nanotechnology design and development and the commercialization of the products and processes that use nanotechnology, while promoting ASME as the leading engineering society for the practical application of nano-technology as well as for the interdisciplinary engineers and scientists who will serve as the systems integrators.

The Institute will provide a platform for launching new revenue-generating products.

New recruitment efforts through the Institute will address nonmember engineers and scientists in key market segments, such as biotechnology, computing, electronics, energy, environment, health care, information technology, instrumentation, manufacturing, materials, optics, space exploration and transportation.

Although the Council on Engineering submitted the Development Fund proposal to the BOG, two other councils will also be actively involved in the Institute: the Council on Education and the Council on Public Affairs.

A Board of Advisors, comprised of practitioners and researchers from industry, government and academia, will offer guidance on how ASME can meet needs in the multidisciplinary field of nanotechnology.

Among the first activities to be organized by the Institute are a series of conferences on the application of traditional mechanical engineering disciplines on the nanoscale, the development of a Web site for the Institute, and the creation of a publication on nanotechology and nanoengineering.

back to news & features