From: gillett (Steve Gillett)
To: msm@quake.seismo.unr.edu
Subject: Nanotechnology Meeting Announcement
Content-Length: 381

The second meeting of the UNR Nanotechnology Interest Group will
be held this Wednesday, Feb 28th, at 4:00 PM in LME 316.  For part
of the time (~ 1/2 hour) I'll give the talk I gave at the Foresight
Conference last fall, entitled "Nanotechnology, Pollution Control, 
and Resources."  There will also be time for other discussion, however!

Hope to see you there!

--Steve Gillett

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Announcing the UNR

NANOTECHNOLOGY INTEREST GROUP

Molecular Nanotechnology (MNT), the design and construction of objects 
literally atom by atom, is currently receiving much study, and 
breakthroughs in this field promise to fuel the growth industries of 
the 21st century.  

Possible pathways to MNT are intrinsically interdisciplinary, as they 
span a broad range of nanoscale and molecular-scale scientific and 
engineering studies, e.g.:

-	molecular biology and bioengineering
-	microlithography
-	molecular self-assembly and monolayers
-	AFM, STM, and TEM studies
-	surface science and catalysis
-	materials science
-	crystallography

Near-term applications will have major ramifications for:

-	environmental remediation and pollution control
-	extractive industries 
-	chemical processing and catalysis
-	ultrastrength materials

among many others.  MNT also will have profound social consequences, 
and such implications are also appropriate items for discussion.  

The NTIG will be an informal forum, outside the traditional 
disciplinary boundaries of the university, for the exchange of ideas 
related to a wide range of nanoscale studies and phenomena.  Initially 
we hope to develop interest and interaction among researchers at UNR.  
Pending developing interest and funding, we then envision a series of 
invited outside speakers.  

FIRST MEETING:  
Wednesday, 31 Jan 1996, 4 PM in Laxalt Mineral Engineering (LME) 316
All students and faculty are invited to attend!

For information, please contact:  

Stephen L. Gillett | Laxalt Mineral Research 255 | Dept. Geological 
Sciences/172 
Mackay School of Mines | gillett@seismo.unr.edu | X 4760

Molecular nanotechnology potentially has staggering implications for 
many fields at Mackay, including chemical engineering, metallurgy, 
environmental remediation, and economic geology, and it seems important
for us to have a presence in this endeavor, and to stay informed of
developments in it.  I hope this will provide an avenue for doing that,
as well as a way to build bridges to other groups on campus who may
be involved in related studies.