Group Travel Support for US Participation in the 8th International Workshop on Piezoresponse Force Microscopy and Nanoscale Electromechanics of Polar Materials

这笔资金用于资助一批美国科学家、博士后学者和研究生参加将于2010年8月25-27日在北京科技大学中国举行的第八届国际极地材料压电响应力显微镜和纳米机电研讨会。电和机械现象之间的耦合在自然界中无处不在，并支撑着各种材料和系统的功能，如铁电和多铁性、电活性分子和生物系统。在过去的十年中，压电响应力显微镜的发展以前所未有的分辨率推动了机电研究的快速发展，本次研讨会旨在就压电响应力显微镜、纳米级机电及其在功能材料和生物系统中的应用进行深入的讨论。这笔资金将支持来自美国的5名顶尖科学家和10名博士后学者和研究生参加研讨会，并将根据他们的研究摘要、简短简历和推荐信来奖励对博士后学者和研究生的支持。旅行支持将使美国科学家、博士后学者和研究生能够在国际环境下参加研讨会。他们将通过受邀的讲座、海报会议和实验室演示，分享和学习压电力显微镜和纳米机电方面的最新进展和挑战。他们还将有足够的机会与其他国家的科学家和学生互动，这将促进未来的国际合作。这些经验对于培养一批才华横溢的博士后学者和研究生的技能将是无价的，他们将成为下一代行业专业人员和学者。

This grant provides funding to support a group of US scientists, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students to attend the 8th International Workshop on Piezoresponse Force Microscopy and Nanoscale Electromechanics of Polar Materials, to be held at University of Science and Technology Beijing, China, on August 25-27, 2010. Coupling between electrical and mechanical phenomena is ubiquitous in nature and underpins the functionality of materials and systems as diversified as ferroelectrics and multiferroics, electroactive molecules, and biological systems. The development of piezoresponse force microscopy in the last decade has led to rapid advances in the investigation of electromechanics with unprecedented resolution, and this workshop aims to provide in-depth discussions on piezoresponse force microscopy, nanoscale electromechanics, and their applications in functional materials and biological systems. The grant will support five leading scientists and 10 postdoctoral scholars and graduate students from US to participate the workshop, and the support for postdoctoral scholars and graduate students will be awarded based on their research abstract, short CV, and recommendation letter.The travel support will enable US scientists, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students to participate the workshop in an international setting. They will share and learn the state of art and challenges in piezoresponse force microscopy and nanoscale electromechanics through invited lectures, poster sessions, and laboratory demonstrations. They will also have ample opportunities to interact with scientists and students from other countries, which will facilitate future international collaborations. Such experience will be invaluable for developing the skills of a group of highly talented postdoctoral scholars and graduate students who will be the next generation of industry professionals and academics.