Nanotechnology conference speakers to focus on applications

Jack Raplee
ASME NEWS

Two highly respected scientists will highlight ASME's Integrated Nanosystems 2002: Design, Synthesis and Applications conference, which will take place Sept. 18-20 in Berkeley, Calif.

Harvard University's George Whitesides and Mildred Dresselhaus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will be the keynote speakers at the event. Both keynoters have won the National Medal of Science.

ASME's Nanotechnology Institute is organizing the conference on this evolving engineering discipline. "It's important to build a bridge between science and engineering," said Arun Majumdar, vice chair for instruction in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, and chair of the Nanotechnology Institute's advisory board.

"Both of these speakers are respected scientists and bring with them the strength of that recognition, "Majumdar added. "Each has worked extensively in the nano-technology field and understands the significance of bringing science to the discipline of engineering. Basically, they can speak both languages."

The objective of the conference is to bring together engineers, scientists, government and venture capitalists to develop nanotechnology and focus on the integration and development of functional nanosystems, nanomaterials and nanostructures for new devices and systems.

George Whitesides

 

Whitesides, a professor of chemistry at Harvard and a member of the National Academy of Science, has had an interest in electronics for many years. "Mechanical engineering is becoming more sophisticated," Whitesides said. "There has been growing interest in self-assembly of mechanical devices, organic conductors, replicate structures, material versatility, unconventional micronanofabrication and several other areas where mechanical engineers see opportunity, and nanotechnology offers potential solutions."

He sees a blending of disciplines as nanostructures that have had electrical applications "fade into microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and biological fields. Biological models are often developed that mechanical can and often does mimic," Whitesides added. "With discoveries at the nano scale, engineers can gain a greater understanding of how such small, yet functional organisms, help to affect the functionality of larger ones."

Whitesides said that he is continuing to work on the specifics of his keynote address to develop a theme that will reach the expected variety of attendees.

"Nanotechnology was pioneered at Berkeley," said Dresselhaus, the other keynote speaker, who is a member of the National Academy of Science and the National Academy of Engineering. She is also Institute Professor of Physics and Electrical Engineering at MIT.

Mildred Dresselhaus

 

In pointing out that the U.S. Department of Energy co-located its nano development center with the university campus, Dresselhaus said, "Appreciation for [nanotechnology] has increased significantly over the last 10 years and is now being incorporated in a number of academic scientific disciplines, including mechanical engineering."

Because it is interdisciplinary, Dresselhaus said, "today's new engineers need to recognize the importance of nanotechnology. Because of its usefulness in heat transfer, thermal conductivity, small-scale vibrations and physics, nanotechnology takes the heat equation out of the classical realm when something's behavior and physical properties change at smaller sizes."

Dresselhaus's biggest concern is for the further development of nano curriculum. "Electronics are getting smaller, technology is getting more streamlined and, although it's happening to some degree already, the mechanical engineering curriculum needs to focus more on nanotechnology if schools want to graduate the most qualified engineers."

For more information, contact Raj Manchanda, director of advanced technology programs, at (212) 591-7789 or by e-mail: manchandar@asme.org, or visit www.asme.org/ nano. Further details will be available soon at www.nanotechnologyinstitute.org.

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