Page 6 - Science at the nanoscale

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RPS: PSP0007 - Science-at-Nanoscale
June 12, 2009
Preface
viii
There are some recurring themes in nanoscience and nanotech-
nology education:
• The basic foundational disciplines are crucially important in any FM
nanotechnology program;
• The nanoscale has always been important in chemistry, physics,
biology and engineering, but with the advent of new tools and
technologies, the nanoscale is now openly visible, comprehen-
sible and manipulable;
• It is critical for students to recognize connections between the
different scientific and engineering disciplines.
The metrics for identifying success in nanotechnology programs
are typically the acquiring of multiscale scientific knowledge, and
the ability of the programs to keep up-to-date with the latest sci-
entific discoveries.
There are currently numerous specialised nanoscience and
nanotechnology-related texts or monographs at the graduate and
senior undergraduate levels. This textbook is targeted at the
junior undergraduate levels or as a reference text for advanced
learners at pre-university and senior high school, and has evolved
from the authors’ own teaching of the following modules at the
National University of Singapore:

• GEK1509 Introduction to the Nanoworld
• UPC2206 Nanoscale Science and Technology
• SP2251 Science at the Nanoscale
The authors’ own research expertise cover a diverse range of areas
including nanomaterials chemistry and self-assembly (Chin Wee
Shong), colloids, nanowires, optical tweezers and atomic force
microscopy (Sow Chorng Haur), surface science and scanning
tunneling microscopy (Andrew T S Wee). This book therefore
aims to be a practical and user friendly textbook that could be
adopted in introductory undergraduate courses in nanoscience
and nanotechnology, materials science and engineering, physics
and chemistry.

Supplementary materials, including solutions to exercises, for this
textbook are available at www.panstanford.com/nanotextbook.

Chin Wee Shong, Sow Chorng Haur, Andrew T S Wee
National University of Singapore
2009