Nanotech down under

from the World-Watch dept.
An article in The Australian ("Surprise gift for UQ", by Dorothy Illing, 12 December 2001), a national newspaper in that country, reports that an anonymous donor from the United States has given the University of Queensland a $17.5 million gift towards a nanotechnology institute. The same philanthropist has already put at least $10 million into the university's $105 million Institute for Molecular Bioscience. The $50 million Australian Institute of Bio-Engineering and Nanotechnology also will get $15 million from UQ's budget. The institute will bring together scientists working in nanotechnology, biomaterials, tissue engineering, neuroscience and bioengineering.
The University of Technology Sydney reports (16 December 2001) it will strengthen its nanotechnology programs, under the leadership of Acting Director of the Institute for Nanoscale Technology, Dr Grant Griffiths. UTS will attempt to match its programs with industry needs, introduce two new undergraduate degrees, and recruit Honours and PhD research students to a range of new industry-sponsored nanotechnology projects.
And a new portal linking to nanotechnology-related sites sponsored by the Australian government was spotted by John Dalton, who writes "I just found Nanotechnology in Australia. It is intended to be a central entry point to Australian efforts in nanotechnology."