| A
pioneering team of scientists at the University of Birmingham
joined forces on Monday 21 March to help further develop
the new industrial revolution of nanotechnology - with
the support of one of the world's leading chemists.
The Collaborative Research
Network in Nanotechnology (CRNNT) is an elite group
of scientists from across the university and external
partners who are working in partnership to research
and develop the commercial exploitation of nanotechnology
- the "dwarf" technology where objects are
measured not in millimetres or even microns, but nanometres
- one thousand millionth of a metre. This cutting-edge
science has the potential to make a huge impact on
a range of industries, including medicine and food.
The
launch, which was open to everyone, featured the inaugural
lecture of the CRNNT, was given by the eminent chemist,
Professor J Fraser Stoddart, FRS from UCLA, entitled:
'Nano Toys and Nano Art: How Fun and Beauty Inspire
Creativity' . The lecture focused on the design and
fabrication of nanomachines and nanodevices.
Nanotechnology at Birmingham
is among the most vigorous in the UK. The CRNTT is
linked to the University's 12N Nanotech Centre - a
virtual centre comprising various research laboratories
that carry out research in nanoscience and nanotechnology.
The CRNTT is the vehicle by which the individual laboratories
comprising the 12N communicate and interact. The Network
features scientists from across the whole range of
science and engineering disciplines.
Professor Jon Preece, Academic
Champion for the Collaborative Research Network in
Nanotechnology, said: "The establishment of the
Collaborative Research Network in Nanotechnology (CRNNT)
at the University of Birmingham is an extremely exciting
venture for the researchers involved in this activity
on campus. Nanotechnology is an area that requires
research and development across the breadth of the
science and engineering disciplines. As such the CRNNT
will provide not only a focus for researchers on campus
to make new collaborative links from which new discoveries
and developments will emerge, but also allow current
and future industrial partners to have a clear view
of the depth of research activity on campus. In particular,
the CRNNT will be working closely with AWM and the
Central Technology Belt to deliver world leading high
technology start-up company ventures in the West Midlands
region."
Nanotechnology is a key priority
for both the region and for the government, who recently
announced that, through the Department for Trade and
Industry, it will establish a national Micro and Nano
Technology Network to support the uptake of nanotechnology
by UK industry.
The launch of the Collaborative
Research Network Nanotechnology (CRNNT) took place
on Monday 21 March in Lecture Theatre 101, Haworth
Building, on the University of Birmingham's main Edgbaston
Campus.
Contact:
Anna Dingley
Press Officer
0121 415 8134
a.j.dingley@bham.ac.uk
Copyright © University
of Birmingham
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