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by Kurt E. Geckeler
Based on the increasing importance of nanoscience and expanded
international interest, the 3rd
IUPAC Sponsored International Symposium on Macro- and Supramolecular
Architectures and Materials (MAM-06): Practical Nanochemistry
and Novel Approaches, was held from 28 May - 1 June 2006 in Tokyo,
Japan. The venue was the International Conference Center on the
campus of the prestigious Waseda University in Tokyo, which is one
of the oldest universities in Japan and is located in the Shinjuku
area of downtown Tokyo.
Over 350 scientists from about 40 countries attended the meeting,
the third in the series. The first was held in Gwangju, South Korea,
and the second one in Missoula, Montana, USA. The conference featured
almost 40 invited lectures, about 50 oral contributions, and more
than 200 poster presentations.
Nanomaterials will play a key role in science and technology in
the 21st century. The purpose of this meeting was to provide an
interdisciplinary forum in which scientists engaged in research,
development, and application, could discuss the current status and
recent developments, with a focus on chemistry and practical approaches.
The topics were categorized in three groups: general, preparation
and materials, and applications. The first group comprised areas
such as chemistry and analysis of nanomaterials, nanoscale processes,
host-guest chemistry, supramolecularity of nanosystems, nanostructured
surfaces, and functionalization of nanomaterials. The second category
included self-assembly and self-organization, control of architectures,
building blocks for nanoscience, nanoclusters, nanoparticles, nanotubes,
nanowires, nanolayered materials, polymers with nanostructures,
nanocomposite materials, nanoengineered materials, biological nano
assemblies, inorganic nanomaterials, and nanohybrid materials.
The third group featured nano- and micro-scale electronic devices,
nanomaterials for batteries and fuel cells, energy applications
of nanomaterials, molecular photonic materials, nano- and micro-scale
imaging and patterning, nanolithography, nanosuperconductors, quantum
dots, molecular switches, motors, machines and computers, nanocontainers,
encapsulation, vesicles, nanomaterials for chemo- and biosensors,
bioinspiration and biomimicking in nanotechnology, nanobiomaterials
and nanomedicine, combinatorial nanotechnology, nanocatalysts and
metals, and green nanochemistry
The official IUPAC representative, Professor C.K. Ober, provided
an excellent introduction to the IUPAC organization during the opening
session, which began with classical music in the Masaru Ibuka Memorial
Hall. The keynote lecture was given by Peter Duesberg and was followed
by a series of invited lectures, covering many aspects of nanochemistry
and nanomaterials.
The high scientific level of the conference was based on the high-caliber
lectures and impressive posters, which had to be displayed in two
sessions due to the large number. Several attractive poster awards
encouraged excellent poster presentations. Despite a tight schedule,
lively and stimulating discussions during the coffee breaks were
not inhibited.
A rich social program included a welcome reception, a Japanese-style
banquet, a short evening trip to Shinjuku to see a night view from
a skyscraper, and special events in the form of Japanese traditional
performances. The last day was reserved for the symposium excursion,
a one-day trip to the UNESCO world heritage site "Nikko,"
famed for its shrine complex and hot springs.
Overall, the symposium was very enriching and successful and provided
an interdisciplinary forum for scientists and engineers to meet
and discuss progress in nanochemistry. Based on the success of this
third meeting, MAM-8, chaired by Helmut Ritter, will be held in
2008 in Düsseldorf, Germany.
Further information on the next meeting can be found at <http://www.uni-duesseldorf.de/MAM-08>.
Kurt E. Geckeler <[email protected]> is a professor at the
Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology in Gwangju, South Korea.