Third GNN Development Workshop

Saarbrucken, Germany
May 26-27, 2005

Building a Global
Nanotechnology Network
(GNN)
Opening remarks by
R.P.H. Chang
Materials Research Institute
Northwestern University
 What is the GNN?

• Membership: Diverse nanotechnology

stakeholders worldwide
• Mission: promote, support and enlarge
global collaboration in nano research,
education, technology and resource
development.
• Guiding Principles: universal participation
and joint ownership
 Vision - GNN Membership

Existing Nano
Networks
Professional &
Researchers Technical Societies

GNN composed of
Government nano stakeholders Industry
Agencies worldwide

Educators & Research

students Centers
National
Labs
 Vision - GNN Components
Research
(basic and applied)
Facilities Education
Development & (formal & informal)
Access
Components
and structure
Joint funding will be based on Standards
programs our common
interests

? Database

?
 What have we done so far?
Cancun, 2001
• Initiated discussions among national
and regional nano leaders
• Survey of existing nano activities
• Key Finding: A global infrastructure is
needed to support collaborations in
nano research, education, and
technology.
Yokohama, 2003
• Survey of existing nano activities
• Survey of existing nano networks
(national, regional, topical)
• Discussions to link these networks to
form a GNN
• Key Finding: The GNN must focus on
non-competitive issues for common
benefit
 Other networking events

• International Dialogue on
Responsible Research
and Development of
Nanotechnology
(Washington, DC April
2004)
• EC Workshop on
Education and Training,
Brussels, April 2005
 Main Goal of this Workshop

Create a GNN implementation structure based on our

common interests.

1. Agree upon areas of common interest

2. Identify necessary resources
3. Identify near and long term objectives
4. Select regional leaders and steering committee
5. Enlist member support

So what are some possible areas of common interest?

 Research
• Basic research discoveries
• Research to meet common
societal needs
 Global Research Gallery
• Developed at NU as a forum for sharing
research at the pre-competitive stage
• Research posters, searchable by topic,
author, etc,
• Discussion forum
• Excellent tool for enlarging international
cooperation
 Facilities
• Facilities directory
• New instrumentation
• Facility sharing agreements
• Remote access platforms
• Examples: International users at Argonne
National Lab, Australian initiatives, NCN,
etc.
 Education
• Content development
• Training and re-training
• Professional development for teachers
• Informal education for general public (safety,
benefits of nano etc…)
• Development of learning tools
• Examples: European Research and Training
Networks, US centers for formal and informal
education, etc.
 National Center for Learning & Teaching
in Nanoscale Science and Engineering
NCLT exists to build national capacity in nanoscale science
and engineering education (NSEE) and to advance science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.

Components of NCLT’s Integrated Program

Professional
Development: Providing
education resources and
development programs that will
prepare students & practicing
teachers to become NSE
educators
Degree Program in NSEE
Education: Mobilizing
college- and university-level
educators based at institutions
nationwide that will offer
undergraduate & graduate
degrees in NSEE

Content Development: NSEE Research &

Focusing on the design of NSE Learning Tools: Organizing
instructional materials for and supporting research on the
grades 7-16 integration of NSE-based
curricula into STEM education

www.nclt.us nclt@northwestern.edu
Partnership of Northwestern, Purdue, University of Michigan, Argonne National Laboratory,
University of Illinois at Chicago and Urbana-Champaign
 Database

A database is needed to house:

• Researcher directories
• Facilities directories
• Educational content
• Journals and publications
• Specialized software
• Other resources
• Examples: Database initiatives in Japan, Canada, and
other countries
 Leadership Structure

Implementation Teams
• Coordinating Leaders in each topical area
• Group members in each region
• Support staff from member institutions

Steering Committee
• Coordinating Leaders?
• Regional Leaders?
• Others?
 Participants Guide to Panels

• No presentations – please see posters

• Questions from audience
• Panelists to brief to take as many
questions as possible.
• Panel facilitator will also ask questions
after the audience has finished.
 Panel questions

• What is currently being done in your

country/region in each of these four areas
(research, education, facilities,
database?)
• What can your country/region contribute
to the GNN in each of these four areas?
• What can your country/region gain from
the GNN in each of these four areas?
http://www.gnanonet.org