First US-Italy Workshop on Frontiers in Materials Research, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

首届美国-意大利材料研究、纳米科学和纳米技术前沿研讨会将于2002年3月14-15日在弗吉尼亚州阿灵顿的国家科学基金会举行。除了将讨论研讨会核心议题的主题演讲外，六个分组小组将在平行会议上举行讨论，并撰写一份报告，概述每个领域的问题并确定合作研究的机会。将探索三大领域，每个领域又有两个子领域。(1)纳米系统表征前沿：低维系统、纳米结构和器件；单分子和少数电子系统和器件的研究。(2)自组装与新材料研究进展：自组装系统与器件；新型有机和无机体系的合成及其装置。(3)材料研究与生物学的界面：生物分子材料的自组装；新型生物分子器件。研讨会的一个目标是促进美国和意大利在材料研究、纳米科学和纳米技术方面的领导小组之间的双边合作。通过这些直接双边合作发起的研究将补充目前由美国国家科学基金会-欧盟委员会实施协议资助的研究。材料研究是创新的巨大推动力，有助于教育和培训未来的科学家和工程师，同时促进经济增长和社会进步。纳米科学和技术的前沿领域正在产生科学突破，在卫生和医疗服务、交通、环境保护、能源效率、民用基础设施、信息技术和国土安全等领域革新现有技术并创造新技术。

The First U.S.-Italy Workshop on Frontiers in Materials Research, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology will be held on March 14-15, 2002 at the National Science Foundation, Arlington, Virginia. In addition to key note talks that will address the core topics of the workshop, six breakout groups will meet in parallel sessions to hold discussions and write a report that outlines issues and identifies opportunities for collaborative research in each of the respective fields. Three major areas will be explored, each having two sub-areas. (1) Frontiers in Characterization of Nanoscale Systems: Low dimensional systems, nanostructures and devices; Studies of single-molecule and few electron systems and devices. (2) Advances in Self-assembly and Novel Materials: self-assembled systems and devices; synthesis of novel organic and inorganic systems and their devices. (3) Interfaces between Materials Research and Biology: self-assembly of biomolecular materials; novel biomolecular devices. A goal of the workshop is to foster bilateral collaborations between leading groups in materials research, nanoscience, and nanotechnology in the U.S. and Italy. The research initiated through these direct bilateral collaborations will complement research that is presently sponsored under the U.S. National Science Foundation - European Commission implementation agreements. Materials research is a huge driving force for innovations that serve to educate and train future scientists and engineers, while advancing economic growth and social progress. Frontier areas of nanoscience and technology are generating scientific breakthroughs that revolutionize existing technologies as well a create new ones in areas that include health and medical services, transportation, environmental protection, energy efficiency, civil infrastructure, information technology, and homeland security.