Author: Foresight Editor

from the not-what-I-was-thinking,-but-OK dept.

According to a press release for an upcoming conference on the medical applications of micro- and nanotechnologies, "the university, the city of Columbus, and the state of Ohio have invested heavily in the development of micro- and nanotechnology," says Mauro Ferrari, director of the Biomedical Engineering Center, and associate director of the Heart and Lung Institute at Ohio State.

In September, Ohio State University will host a comprehensive international conference devoted the medical uses of micro- and nanotechnology. About 70 research papers have been scheduled to be presented at "BioMEMS and Biomedical Nanotechnology World 2000." The conference will run September 23 through 26 at the Hyatt Regency Columbus.

The release concludes: "When people hear 'microelectronics,' they think of Silicon Valley," Ferrari Said. "Ten years from now, when people hear 'nanotechnology,' we want them to think of Ohio."

from the so-where's-their-donation? dept.
This "news" predates nanodot, but it's worth noting this item from IDG that gives both NASA's views on nanotech (which we knew), but also the CIA's (which we didn't): The rapid pace of technological change is also forcing the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to adjust. In February 1999, the CIA formed IN-Q-Tel Inc., a nonprofit corporation set up to invest in technology companies. The CIA believes it is not currently able to keep up with developments in information technology infrastructures and is being challenged in its mission of presenting top-flight information to the federal government, Gilman Louie, president of IN-Q-Tel, said…Louie also advocated public education as an element in promoting support for nanotechnology. "The genie is already out of the bottle." he said.

from the Groves-of-academe dept.

Flinders University, located in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (about 750 km northwest of Melbourne) is offering a Bachelor of Science program in Nanotechnology. The BSc degree is an honours specialization of a general science degree program, adding nanotechnology-related courses to a curriculum that includes math, physics, chemistry and biology. A description of the program can be found on the Flinders web site, along with an overview of the coursework required for the program. There are apparently not yet any similar post-graduate programs in place.

This is the second degree-oriented academic program directly targeting nanotechnology that has come to our notice; the University of Washington (Seattle, USA) has initiated a doctoral (PhD) program in nanotechnology.