The recently released Nanoinformatics 2020 Roadmap could facilitate and improve communication between nanotechnology and engineering research teams, developers and government bodies.
According to Mark Tuominen, National Nanomanufacturing Network (NNN) director at the Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, his team collaborated with many groups who realized the need for a comprehensive guide. It is important that nanotechnology related groups to discuss needs, opportunities and plans for the future. Plans were made for a roadmap that would be governed by and for the nano informatics segment collectively, without being controlled by a single agency or government authority. It is a guide to the scientists, nanotech community and government institutions.
According to Jessica Adamick, librarian and manager of the NNN’s website, InterNano, the 2020 roadmap has been a comprehensive effort by the entire nanotech community to address the needs and objectives of the nanoinformatics segment, which is the nodal point of computer science, nanotechnology and data management.
Analyzing, which data is essential to nanoscience and the engineering community, developing and using tools to collect, confirm, save, share, and apply the information is called nanoinformatics.
The exercise was headed by Rebecca Reznik-Zellen, digital strategies coordinator for the UMass Libraries, and Jeffrey Morse, managing director, NNN. It is partially based on ‘Nanoinformatics 2010: A Collaborative Roadmapping Workshop’, an earlier effort that had brought together about 80 specialists in November 2010. The guide offers data on existing research and development and will invite contributions from specialists in related fields. The guide combines vision and route and offers an achievable time frame to develop nanoinformatics data, equipment and infrastructure. This endeavor will raise awareness and help understand the pros and cons of nanotechnology applications.