Category: Media Mentions

from the World-Watch dept.
An article in the Jerusalem Post ("Hebrew University to invest $40m. in new nanotech center", by Tania Hershman, 6 January 2002) describes the inauguration of activities of a new Center of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at Hebrew University. The event marks the culmination of a months-long fundraising effort that began last June, and will lead to the construction of a new building to house the center later. According to the article, what is being launched now is the official cross-disciplinary activity that will involve Hebrew University scientists from the physics, chemistry, engineering and life sciences faculties. In October 2002, the university will begin offering undergraduate courses in the field.
"The physical building will take a couple of years. We are in the process of designing it now," Hebrew University president, professor Menachem Magidor told The Jerusalem Post. "Today is the organizational inauguration. In six months we will inaugurate one [physical] component, the Center for Microcharacterization and Electron Microscopy."

Additonal background on the HU Center of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology can be found in this article from June 2001 from the Small Times website.

from the World-Watch dept.
An article in the Taipei Times ("Taiwan hoping for giant steps in a minute world", by Chiu Yu-tzu, 5 January 2002) provides useful background on the efforts of the Taiwan government, through its National Science Council (NSC) to coordinate nanotech-related research and development. The efforts include a new Nanotechnology Research Center in the city of Hsinchu, operated by the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), which will be formally opened on 16 January 2002, and the formulation of a coordinated nanotechnology program to be finalized by the end of the year. The proposed budget for the program is about NT$19.1 billion (about US$547 million) over the next five years (until 2007), of which NT$1.5 billion (US$40 million) has been allocated for this year. The article also briefly reviews various nanotech research activities in Taiwan.

Update: Additional coverage can be found in another article from the Taipei Times ("Funding for nanotech to aid industry", by Dan Nystedt, 8 January 2002) which focuses on comments by Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian: "Nanotechnology is the new century's rising star and will bring about a massive shift in the development of new materials, information-technology products and biomedicine," Chen said during an inspection tour of the Nanotechnology Research Center in Hsinchu.

from the World-Watch dept.
According to a report in the Korea Herald (7 January 2002) the South Korean governmentís Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) is planning to carry out special inspections of government funding in the nanotechnology, as well as the information technology and biotechnology sectors because "up till now no comprehensive examination of how funds were spent were made." This may be necessary because, according to another report from the Asia Pulse news service (21 December 2001), the S. Korean government has decided to spend 13 trillion won (US$10.2 billion) to support the development of 77 technologies in six fields including nanotechnology as well as information technology and biotechnology. The funding is part of the 35 trillion won the government will spend on research and development over the next five years.

from the less-is-more dept.
In a brief article on Tech Central Station ("Small Is Beautiful", 7 January 2002), Duane D. Freese highlights some recent progress in nanotech-related research, and advocates a decidedly limited role for government-funded research and development: "As the potential for nanotechnology moves out of the lab, government spending ought to mimic the technology — and shrink."

Kristine Palmquist writes "Small Times has an extensive article on the increase of nano research and industry in Louisiana. Coverage includes R&D efforts by: the Louisiana Technology Council; Louisiana State University's Advanced Materials Research Institute, Health Sciences Center, and Neuroscience Center; University of Louisiana at Lafayette; Tulane University; University of New Orleans Research and Technology Park; Mezzo Systems; Analytical Specialties, Inc.; Axxon LLC; Louisiana Tech's Institute for Micromachining; the Louisiana Accelerator Center; and a consortium of Louisiana Universities, The Micro/Nano Technologies Consortium for Advanced Physical, Chemical and Biological Sensors."

An article from the Inter Press Service ("Nanotech should help the world, not just the West, experts warn", 2 January 2002) says "Scientific breakthroughs last year heralded potential benefits for developing countries but experts urge that research be managed in a socially responsible manner." The piece focuses on breakthroughs in nanotechnology (molecular electronics and computing, in particular) and their potential impact on the developing world. The article contains extensive quotes from the Foresight Guidelines for the safe development of nanotechnology. Also quoted are the head of the United Nations Development Program and the non-profit American Council for the United Nations University; both organizations cited the need to ensure that scientists from around the world — not just in the West — actively participate in cutting-edge research projects.

from the World-Watch dept.
According to a University of Queensland (Australia) news release (11 December 2001), the Queensland Government and the University of Queensland have formally announced the establishment a $50 million Australian Institute of Bio-Engineering and Nanotechnology at the UQ St. Lucia campus in Brisbane. Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said the Institute was the first project to be funded through the $A 100 million Smart State Research Facilities Fund established in this yearís State Budget. Although the new institute will initially focus on biotechnology-related research and development, Beattie said, ìNanotechnology will provide the building blocks of the future. Itís the ëSmart Stateí technologies that will drive employment opportunities in Queensland in the years ahead.î

The announcement said the Queensland Government, the University of Queensland and "an overseas philanthropic organization" are funding the new institute. Beattie said the Australian national Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) would also be a key contributor to the institute. Beattie had announced plans to establish the center at a biotechnology conference in June 2001. The St. Lucia campus is already home to the University of Queensland NanoMaterials Centre (NanoMac) and Nanotechnology and Biomaterials Centre.

In a related development, on 18 December 2001 Premier Beattie also invited the collaboration of researchers in New Zealand with the new University of Queensland institute. "The NEST group (the Nanostructure Engineering, Science and Technology group) at the University of Canterbury [in New Zealand] is highly regarded by their colleagues in Queensland. . . . Links with the new Australian Institute would be a natural fit and could be beneficial to both parties," Beattie said.

from the penny-wise… dept.
According to an article from the Gannett News Service (ìNASAís future in balance; closures seem imminentî, by Larry Wheeler, 26 December 2001), the Bush Administration is conducting a thorough review of the core needs and capabilities of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). According to the article, the review will include consideration of the possibility of closing down one of NASAís ten major regional centers. The report states that one of the centers that is considered vulnerable to closure or conversion to a private, non-government research park is the Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, in the south San Francisco Bay area. NASA Ames is home to the Center for Nanotechnology. The impact that closure of the Ames Center, and any other cuts that might result from the review, would have on NASA nanotechnology efforts is unclear.