Conference Explores Nanotechnology and Its Commercialization - News Item

The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Commerce’s Technology Administration invite interested media to “The National Nanotechnology Initiative: From Vision to Commercialization.” The three-day conference will provide a comprehensive status report and overview of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), including priorities, budgets, research projects, outcomes, and prospects for commercialization. The first day will be devoted to nanomanufacturing, and the following two days to overviews of various agencies and large projects.

The conference will be held from Wednesday, Mar. 31, through Friday, Apr. 2, at the Washington Convention Center.

Among the highlights will be a presentation by Rice University chemist Richard E. Smalley, who helped ignite the current explosion of interest in nanotechnology with his Nobel-prize winning discovery of the globular carbon structures known as “Buckyballs.” NSF’s Mihail C. Roco, who chairs the NNI’s governing body, the Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology Council will also speak.

Other highlights include talks by presidential science advisor John H. Marburger III, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; Phillip J. Bond, Under Secretary for Technology at the Department of Commerce; Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), Chair of the House Committee on Science; and three other members of Congress: Sen. George Allen (R-VA), Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Rep. Michael M. Honda (D-CA).

Posted 18^th March 2004