Page 5 - Science at the nanoscale

RPS: PSP0007 - Science-at-Nanoscale
7:54
June 12, 2009
Preface
Nanotechnology is one of the most important growth areas in the FM
21st century. Nanoscience, the science underpinning nanotechnol-
ogy, is a multidisciplinary subject covering atomic, molecular and
solid state physics, as well as much of chemistry. Nanostructures
are known to exhibit novel and improved material properties.
Fundamentally, these arise because the physical as well as chemi-
cal properties are very different when dimensions are reduced to
the nanometer range. This book thus aims to introduce the vari-
ous basic principles and knowledge needed for students to under-
stand science at the nanoscale.
Many ideas proposed in nanotechnology are frontier and futur-
istic, although some have immediate technological applications.
The fundamental scientific principles of all nanotechnology appli-
cations, however, are grounded in physics and chemistry.
Nanoscience and nanotechnology degree programmes are
being increasingly offered by more and more universities around
the world, especially in Australia and Europe. 1 A conventional
undergraduate study of a science and engineering discipline nor-
mally specialises in the final year(s), but nanotechnology curricula
often aim to confront students from their first or second years with
the essence and interdisciplinarity of nanoscience and nanotech-
nology. By introducing the ideas and applications of nanoscience
early, students receive a coherent overview of nanoscience to
motivate them to learn the necessary basics in the traditional
science disciplines of physics, mathematics, chemistry, materials
science, biology and medicine. Real interdisciplinarity can be
achieved by combining the breadth of nanoscience with the depth
in each discipline.

1 Wikipedia (under entry: “Nanotechnology Education”, http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Nanotechnology education) states the first programme involving
nanotechnology was offered by the University of Toronto, where nanotechnology
could be taken as an option within their Engineering Science programme.
Interestingly, Wikipedia indicates that to date, Australia leads the world with
nine universities offering bachelors degree programmes, followed closely by
Europe with about seven