Nano doubts about it: It’s a small world

Today, minute transistors make computers faster, molecular-scale particles make steel and aluminum stronger, and structures only slightly bigger than an atom help make the light-emitting diodes in stoplights bright.

All this is possible because of advances in the new field of nanotechnology, which applies broadly to the design and use of materials and techniques at dimensions about 10 times larger than atoms, says Dan van der Weide, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering.

The future role of this science in the economic development of key industrial sectors, both regionally and nationally, will be discussed Friday-Saturday, May 30-31, at a UW-Madision conference, “Nano All Around Us,” and at the hands-on public exposition, “NanoExpo.” The exposition includes workshops on how to teach this new science in classes ranging from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Nanotechnology is an exciting, rapidly changing field, the effects of which will be felt for decades, says van der Weide, one of the conference’s organizers. “It could be another industrial revolution.”

For more information about the event call 265-3783, email nano@engr.wisc.ed, or see the web site at: http://nano.engr.wisc.edu.