HOUSTON – Fledgling nanotechnology research may not only revolutionize technology, but it could also herald a renaissance in all the scientific disciplines.
"One of the aspects of 'nano' that is most powerful is the effect I perceive on physics and chemistry," Dr. Richard Smalley said Friday at the closing panel of the NanoSpace2000 conference. "Physicists and chemists will think like engineers and artists constructing objects from the fundamental building blocks."
Nanotechnology researchers convened this week at the Johnson Space Center-sponsored event to share ideas, and cross technical and disciplinary boundaries in research. Building machines, electronic and biological devices at the atomic and molecular level is the goal of nanotechnology.
’s call last week to double the fiscal year 2001 scientific research funds to almost $500 million.
Dr. Carlo Montemagno of Cornell University said he already sees scientific disciplines blurring as technology advances.
"In my own group, mathematicians, engineers and molecular biologists work with one another," he said. "They all have a stake in the core project and must know the capabilities and limitations of other areas."
Smalley added that nanotechnology is critical to the space agency’s future missions.
"I believe that NASA and 'nano' potentially have a vital, special relationship between one another," he said. "I can’t imagine ever accomplishing a portion of that mission without 'nano' becoming a reality."
Smalley’s research concentrates on development for carbon nano-tubes, which are lighter and stronger than steel and could be used to produce super-light spacecraft or a space elevator on the Earth.
Montemagno said he was concerned that the United States maintain its lead in nanotechnology and hopes something akin to the Soviet launching of Sputnik, which spurred the space race, will inspire students and researchers.
"Nanotechnology is really a new frontier," he said. "If we fail to live up to the call, we may not feel the effects, but our children and grandchildren will."
Increased enthusiasm and passion for research rather than medical school or other lucrative fields is taking shape, Montemagno said.
Programs at the National Science Foundation aim at increasing interest in science in the public schools, said the foundation’s Mihail Roco.
"We’re focusing on training teachers for science and engineering-related topics," he said. "I think we have the right balance and we’re spending about one-sixth of our funds on education."
The NSF has a budget of about $4 billion and supports about 19,000 research and educational projects.
One government agency looking for nanotechnology answers is the formerly super-secret National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) that designs, builds and flies spy satellites. The clandestine agency was founded in the 1960s and only became public in 1992.
NRO’s John Egan said the agency awards about 60 research grants each year.
"We’re looking for very innovative, creative type ideas," he said. "We see nanotechnology as a means to an end, not the product itself."
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