Nanoscience – where physics, chemistry and biology collide

An international symposium on nanoscience will be held at the Australian Academy of Science on Friday 2 May, as part of its Science at the Shine Dome events.

The symposium will discuss how matter behaves at the sub-microscopic level and why this knowledge has such promise in the development of new materials, devices and systems.

Dr Michael Barber, convenor of the symposium and Executive Director, CSIRO Science Planning, says that science at this level is fascinating. "There are a number of reasons for the immense worldwide scientific interest in what is happening in nanoscience.

"The extreme surface to bulk ratio of nanoparticles, along with their near atomic size and the unique interactions between them, lead to these particles having remarkable properties," he said. "Investigation of these properties is done through the convergence of a range of scientific disciplines including, but not restricted to, physics, chemistry and biology.

"The ability to manipulate and carry out experiments on single atoms and molecules has many potential applications - energy production and processing, enhanced computing and telecommunications services, environmental management, health care and industrial manufacturing.

"Another aspect of nanoscience that is of great interest to scientists and engineers is the apparent 'challenge' to fundamental scientific laws and concepts that it presents," he said. "Why do these novel properties arise in materials when working at the nano-metre range?"

The symposium features an impressive cast of local speakers as well as Dr Angela Belcher, The John Chipman Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Bioengineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Item provided courtesy of The Australian Academy of Science