30.11– 04.

12

nanoweek 10 -9

Small Science. Big Impact. 1

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A forest of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) with a diameter of less
than 100 nanometres (nm). This image was taken at CRANN using a helium-
ion microscope. CNT’s are being used to develop a new flexible, display
technology with Hewlett-Packard, funded by Science Foundation Ireland.
introducing nanoweek
Occasionally radical changes occur in science,
which enable the development of a whole new
area of research with previously unimagined
potential – both social and economic.
Nanotechnology is an example - an entirely
new kind of technology based on research
techniques that allow scientists to manipulate
NANOSTRUCTURES CAN BE CREATED BY A ‘BOTTOM-UP’ ASSEMBLY OF INDIVIDUAL ATOMS & MOLECULES. NATURE HAS BEEN
the very fabric of our world one atom at a
USING BOTTOM-UP NANOTECHNOLOGY IN THE BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES OF ALL LIVING THINGS FOR BILLIONS OF YEARS. time.Nanotechnology can be used to develop
smaller and more powerful electronic devices,
materials with completely new properties
and new ways of producing better medical
diagnostics and targeted drugs. Nanotechnology
is contributing to product innovation in virtually
every field of manufactured goods, enabling
nearly $250 billion in products in 2008, on
track to exceed $3 trillion globally by 2015.
In Ireland we are well positioned to play a lead
role in this worldwide social and economic
revolution due to significant Government
funding through Science Foundation
Ireland (SFI) and the Higher Education
Authority (HEA). Ireland is ranked 6th
globally for the quality of the nanoscience
research carried out in our universities.
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Ireland has more than 500 companies, both
multinational and indigenous, employing
approximately 130,000 people in the
Information Communications and Technology,
medical devices and pharmaceutical
sectors. These companies are reliant on
nanotechnology for continued product
innovation and competitiveness. Ireland has
an opportunity to take a position of global
leadership in this area and become recognised
internationally as a location of choice for
nanoscience research and manufacturing.
Nanoweek aims to bring this revolution to your
doorstep offering you opportunities to find
out exactly what is driving this multi-billion
euro industry which promises to improve our
quality of life. We will showcase the excellence
of nanoscience research in Ireland, its direct
links to industry and the central role it will
play in developing Ireland’s smart economy.
Enjoy the week.
The Nanoscience Network.
 what is nanotechnology? P Around 600 researchers are currently carrying
P Nanoscience is vital to Ireland’s economic
future. Three of the largest industries in
out research related to nanotechnology Ireland will be directly impacted by
in Ireland. nanoscience research – medical devices,
pharmaceuticals and Information Com-
P Ireland already has many companies who are munication Technology (ICT). Ireland must
What exactly will developments in nano dependent on nanotechnology to enable their remain leading in nanoscience if it is going
mean for our future and how could they

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existing or future products. These include to remain competitive in attracting, retaining
impact Ireland’s economy? We’ve provid- The word nano is from the Greek multinational companies such as Intel, and growing these companies in Ireland.
word ‘Nanos’ meaning Dwarf. It
ed some facts and figures on nanoscience is a prefix used to describe “one Hewlett-Packard, Medtronic, Elan, Analog,
and nanotechnology below. If you would billionth” of something.
Seagate, Johnson & Johnson and indigenous – The ICT sector employed 87,200 people in 2006.
like to find out more, check out the events Nanoscience works on a scale companies such as Creganna, NTERA, Audit In the ICT sector overall, total turnover was €75.4
1000 times smaller than any-
running in various locations throughout thing that can be seen with an Diagnostics, Aerogen and Proxy Biomedical. billion in 2006.
the country during Nanoweek. optical microscope.

GRAIN OF SALT RED BLOOD CELL
YOU ARE HERE 1.75m 1mm 5,0000nm VIRUS 50nm BUCKYBALL 1nm
ANTS HEAD 2mm HUMAN HAIR NANOWIRE DNA WIDTH 2nm HYDROGEN ATOM
80,000nm 50nm 0.1nm

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A nanometre (nm) is a billionth
NANOTUBE of a metre, or a millionth of
1.3nm
a millimetre.
P Nanoscience refers to a discipline of science

*
where researchers study materials at very We are already surrounded by P There is a major opportunity for Ireland to – Employment in the Irish pharmaceutical industry in
small dimensions – less than 100 nanometres billions of nano-particles, such as
become a global centre of excellence for nano- the last 10 years has increased by over 56%. The
wind borne sea salt and chemicals
(nm). 1 nanometre is one billionth of a metre. generated by oceanic plankton. technology by leveraging existing expertise and industry employs over 24,000 people over half of
A human hair is about 50,000 nm in width. attracting future investment in the area. them 3rd level graduates. In 2004, the pharmaceutical
Nanotechnologists are concerned with the way P Ireland has developed a global reputation for sector exported products to a value of €37.5 billion
such small materials and structures can be leadership in nanoscience with its researchers P Active collaboration between industry and accounting for some 44.7% of the national total.
used to do useful things. recently ranked sixth globally for the quality of academia is beginning to deliver significant
their research output. economic benefits to Ireland. – There are currently over 140 medical technology
P The largest European R&D funding pro- companies in Ireland, exporting €6.2 billion worth of
gramme ever, the 7th Framework Programme P In 2008 Ireland exported €150 billion in product annually and employing 24,000 people – the
for Research (FP7) reserves approximately goods and services of which it is estimated highest number of people working in the industry in
€500 million for nanotechnologies and 10% were enabled by nanoscience and related any country in Europe, per head of population. Exports
nanosciences per annum from 2007–2013. nanotechnologies. of medical devices and diagnostics products now
represent close to 10% of Ireland’s total exports.
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 nanoweek schedule

Y Location ] Events s Mon 30.11 s Tue 01.12 s Wed 02.12 s Thu 03.12 s Fri 04.12

AM LUNCH PM EVENING AM LUNCH PM EVENING AM LUNCH PM EVENING AM LUNCH PM EVENING AM LUNCH PM EVENING

TYNDALL CORK Formal Opening

TYNDALL CORK Tyndall Workshop
SCIENCE GALLERY Nano Ice-Cream Van
SCIENCE GALLERY Nanolab
CRANN Nanoworld Tours
SCIENCE GALLERY Meeting of Minds
TYNDALL CORK INSPIRE 09: National Scientific Meeting
SCIENCE GALLERY Science Leviathan
PACCAR THEATRE University Research To Economic Value

SCIENCE GALLERY Nano Tips Public Talk by Prof. James Gimzewski

PACCAR THEATRE Nanoscience to Nanotechnology:
A Strategic Vector for the Knowledge Economy
SCIENCE GALLERY Ignite
VARIOUS Nanoweek for Schools Cork Limerick Galway Dublin

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Visit www.nanoweek.ie to find out more about what is happening in nanotechnology in Ireland. Nanotechnology was first introduced
in 1959 by Nobel Prize-winning
physicist Richard Feynman. He
For full list of speakers and details on how to book go to www.sciencegallery.com/events proposed using normal-sized robots
to construct smaller replicas of
themselves and then using the new
set to manufacture an even smaller
set, and so on, until the molecular
scale is reached.
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The discovery of another nanoscale
carbon form, C60, called the bucky-
ball, brought the 1996 Nobel Prize in
Chemistry to Robert Curl, Sir Harold
Kroto, and Richard Smalley. It started
an avalanche of research into other
nanoscale materials.
At the Nano level the differences
between scientific disciplines
fade. Nanotechnology needs
new approaches that cross
the traditional boundaries
between physics, chemistry,
biology and engineering.
Nanotechnology is already having an
impact on foods, medical devices,
chemical coatings, personal health
testing kits, sensors for security
systems, water purification units for
manned space craft, displays for
hand-held computer games, and
high-resolution cinema screens.
 *
nanoweek events Nanotechnology is enabling the
development of green energy
04.12.09 — 9:00-16:45
Nanoscience To Nanotechnology:
technologies. Advances in nano- A Strategic Vector for the Knowledge Economy
science are producing more efficient
solar cells, are providing coatings to PACCAR THEATRE, SCIENCE GALLERY
improve the lifetime of wind energy

* *
systems and are producing materials
Carbon nanotubes are the strongest Nanotechnology is already applied and devices which require lower How can nanotechnology contribute to develop-
material know to man, but they commercially in products ranging operational energies.
are also very light. Carbon nano from mobile phones, computer discs, ing Ireland’s knowledge economy? How should
particles are incorporated into a tennis rackets and golf clubs to academic research, industry and government
broad range of sports products sunscreens and cosmetics.
including bike frames, tennis work together to enable this knowledge
rackets and crash helmets. economy? How are scientific ideas changed
into commercial realities? This meeting aims to
engage the key stakeholders in discussion about
creating Ireland’s future and the potential for
nanotechnology to play a role in this future.
30.11.09 — 15:00–18:00
Graduate Workshop in Nanoscience The event is focused on connecting the dots from
TYNDALL NATIONAL INSTITUTE, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK nanoscience to nanotechnology, from academia
to industry, from agency to agency, consortia to
Irish academic institutions have a vibrant gradu- 01.12.09 — 9:00-17:30 03.12.09 — 14:00-17:30 consortia, in representing a unified and coherent
ate student research community with over 300 INSPIRE 09 National Scientific Meeting University Research to Economic Value: nano-network in Ireland. The event will include
students currently undertaking PhD programmes TYNDALL NATIONAL INSTITUTE, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK Changing Ireland Through Research an introduction to the newly formed Competence
related to nanoscience. The purpose of this event PACCAR THEATRE, SCIENCE GALLERY Centre for Applied Nanotechnology, which forms
is to offer three tutorial classes for graduate The Integrated NanoScience Platform for Ireland an important final link in this network. It will
students on topics spanning nanoelectronics, (INSPIRE) is an all-island partnership across This workshop focuses on the development highlight the opportunity to establish nanotech-
nanophotonics, and nanobiosciences. ten academic institutions providing researchers of economic value from university research, nology as a key vector in Ireland’s knowledge
with shared access to state of the art research including discussions on Intellectual Property economy.
Instructors include Prof. Siegmar Roth (Korea facilities, graduate educational programmes and and case-studies on developing nanotechnology
University/SINEUROP/Max Planck Institute) collaborative research programmes. This meet- companies. The event will focus on personal case Speakers include:
Prof. Anatoly Zayats (Centre for Nanostructured ing brings together all the INSPIRE partners to studies, both Irish and international, from suc- Frank Gannon Director General, Science Foundation Ireland
Media, Queens University Belfast) and Prof. showcase their world leading research and to cessful entrepreneurs, including Mark Heffernan, Barry O’Leary CEO, Industrial Development Agency
Joachim Spatz (Max Planck Institute for Metals highlight the potential economic value of this Chris Horn, and Donald Fitzmaurice. The work- Frank Ryan CEO, Enterprise Ireland
Research, Stuttgart). research to Ireland. shop covers all technology sectors but provides a Jim O’Hara General Manager, Intel Ireland
specific closing focus on nanotechnology. Helen Ryan CEO, Creganna
x Class sizes will be limited. Register today on: P To find out more about speakers and how to book a Gerry Kilcommins VP & General Manager, Medtronics
http://conferencing.ucc.ie/conference/conference. place at this event go to: www.inspirenano.com P For full list of speakers and details on how to book go to Roger Whatmore CEO, Tyndall National Institute
php?id=52. www.sciencegallery.com/events John Boland Director, CRANN Institute
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 get involved in nanoweek
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Nanomaterials are created by
precisely controlling structure at the
nanoscale dimensions to produce
new materials.

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Nanoelectronics continues from the
development in microelectronics,
especially for computers, but now at
30.11.09-04.12.09 — 13:00-13:45
significantly smaller size-scales. Nanoworld Tours

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Many drugs when initially discovered
are insoluble which diminishes
their capacity to be used to improve
patient health. However, by formulat-
ing drugs as nanoparticles many
can be made soluble and be used to
treat patients.
Drugs can sometimes adversely
affect both healthy and diseased
cells. Nanotechnology offers a
potential solution by enabling the
development of a “magic bullet” –
a drug which is targeted to only kill
diseased cells and not impacting
healthy cells.
30.11.09-04.12.09
Nanoweek For Schools:
Inspire National Nano Week Outreach
During Nanoweek all INSPIRE institutional
partners will be visiting schools in Cork, Limerick,
Galway and Dublin. This programme will intro-
duce nanoscience to secondary school students
and will include lesson plans/worksheets linked
to the current school curriculum. For more infor-
mation check out www.nanoweek.ie
12.11.09-04.12.09
Nano ice cream van
SCIENCE GALLERY
Developed with Dr Andrew Maynard Smith
as a tool to engage the public in nanoscience,
the nano ice cream van is essentially a mobile
laboratory equipped to demonstrate fundamental
experiments exploring some of the principles of
nanoscience.
Demonstrations linked to nanoscience include
the preparation of liquid nitrogen ice cream (the
rapid freezing leads to the ice-cream having a
nanoscale structure and a super-smooth texture).
Visitors to the nano ice cream van are in with a
chance to win a Golden Ticket. This Golden Ticket
will give the winner unique behind the scenes
access to the multi billion euro facilities in INTEL
and CRANN, and the opportunity to meet directly
with the experts behind some of the cutting edge
research in Ireland. Furthermore, the lucky
winners will get a chance to watch as their own
initials are etched for eternity into a flat diamond
surface using a FIB (Focused Ion Beam).
01.12.09 — 18:30
First Tuesday
PACCAR THEATRE, SCIENCE GALLERY
Turning research and innovation into viable
businesses driving Ireland’s smart economy
is the focus on the new series of First Tuesday
events. Researchers pitch their ideas to potential
investors and you get to watch. Who knows — you
could witness the birth of the next big thing!
02.12.09 — 19:00
Science Leviathan:
It’s The Smart Economy, Stupid!
PACCAR THEATRE, SCIENCE GALLERY
Join us at Science Leviathan with leading Irish
broadcasters and a panel of top researchers,
industry experts and policy makers to debate and
discuss whether Ireland’s research and develop-
ment is enough to pull Ireland out of its current
financial crisis.
P Booking on www.sciencegallery.com/events
CRANN, NAUGHTON INSTITUTE
Meet at Science Gallery reception
Opened in 2008 CRANN is one of the most
cutting edge research facilities in Ireland. During
Nanoweek you will get a unique chance to
take a tour of these fascinating labs. See world
leading research as it happens, have a chat with a
researcher and find out how something so small
can have such a big impact on our research and
economic landscape. More details about the range
of tours are available online.
x Booking is essential on
www.sciencegallery.com/events
03.12.09 + 04.12.09 — 18:00
NANO@Night
CRANN, NAUGHTON INSTITUTE
Take a tour of CRANN (see above) and finish the
tour with a drink of your choice in the Science
Gallery café to continue the discussion.
x Tickets available on www.sciencegallery.com
(tickets include 1 drink)

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Nanobiotechnology combines Research at the nanoscale is
nano-scale engineering with biology unified by the need to pool
in order to manipulate living systems knowledge on tools and techniques
and to build biologically inspired and to share expertise.
materials at the molecular level.

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Nanotechnology has the potential
to revolutionise clothing. Today
we have clothes which use nano

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Nanoparticles are incorporated in a
broad range of cosmetic products
such as anti-ageing creams and
sun screen.
coatings to repel water and protect
against staining. In the future we
will have smart clothes which sense
our body temperature and wellbeing
or which incorporate mobile
communication devices.

03.12:.09—18:30
Nano tips:
30.11.09-04.12.09 — 13:00-14:00 30.11.09-04.12.09 daily Exploring this planet, your body & beyond
Meeting Of Minds: Be A Nano-Assistant Your Science, Your Say Prof. Jim Gimzewski
NANO ICE CREAM VAN, PEARSE ST., SCIENCE GALLERY SCIENCE GALLERY PACCAR THEATRE, SCIENCE GALLERY

Every lunchtime during Nanoweek you will be
able to book in a nano appointment with one of
the Principle Investigators from CRANN and as-
sist with experiments in the nano ice cream van.
Find out what is involved in nano research and
ask any pressing nano questions you may have
like “Is an elevator to space actually possible?”
xBooking is essential on 30.11.09-04.12.09 — 12:00-15:00 daily
www.sciencegallery.com/events
10
If you had the decision which theme or area of
nanotechnology would you fund and why? Your
Science Your Say will feature three short films of
nano researchers presenting their work – audi-
ences at the Science Gallery will get to take a vote
on which of the researchers they think should
receive €1,000 towards their research and why?
Nanolab
SCIENCE GALLERY
Join one of CRANN’s postgrads at the Nanolab
in the Science Gallery and try operating a desk-
top Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), take
on the nanoquest challenge and find out first-
hand the difference between how atoms and
molecules behave on the nano and macro scale.
04.12.09 — 18:30
Ignite: Nanoscience
SCIENCE GALLERY
Can you explain what you do in 5 minutes? An
event for everyone who likes to find out about
new ideas, Ignite will bring together a range of
people all exploring and researching within the
area of nano. The aim is to leave the audiences’
minds spinning with the breadth of possibility
within nano.
P Find out more on
www.sciencegallery.com/events
Professor Gimzewski’s lecture will discuss the
advancements which have been made in the past
two decades in nanoscience, and will consider
how this small science will really have a big
impact on all our lives.
Prof. Gimzewski pioneered research in nano-
science with single atoms and molecules using
scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and was
one of the first persons to image molecules with
STM. Jim Gimzewski is a Distinguished Profes-
sor of Chemistry and Scientific Director of the
Art|Sci Center at the University of California,
Los Angeles.
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 about the
nanoscience network
Nanoweek is an initiative of the Nanoscience
Network, which is a group bringing together all
the key stakeholders in developing nanoscience
and nanotechnology in Ireland – government,
academia and industry. The network combines
two major consortia, the Integrated NanoScience
Platform for Ireland (INSPIRE) and the
Competence Centre for Applied Nanotechnology
(CCAN). INSPIRE, funded by the HEA, is
comprised of internationally leading researchers
across ten third level institutions and coordinated
by CRANN (TCD), the Science Foundation Ireland
(SFI) funded Centre for Science and Engineering
Technology. The recently announced CCAN,
funded by Enterprise Ireland and the Industrial
Development Agency, includes both leading
multi-national companies such as Intel, Analog
Devices, Medtronic and Seagate and indigenous
Irish companies such as Creganna, Proxy
Biomedical, Aerogen and Audit Diagnostics.
The competence centre will be co-hosted by the
Tyndall National Institute and CRANN.
UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY
COLLEGE
12
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Self-assembly at the scale of
molecules is commonly employed
by nature within every living cell but
it is very rarely used in engineering
procedures.
SEAGATE
QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY BELFAST
UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER
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AEROGEN INTEL Nanobiotechnology combines
CREGANNA CRANN, TCD nano-scale engineering with biology
MEDTRONIC CBNI, UCD in order to manipulate living systems
*
PROXY BIOMEDICAL FOCUS INSTITUTE, DIT and to build biologically inspired
LIGHTHOUSE, NUIG NCPST & RINCE, DCU The discovery of another nanoscale materials at the molecular level.
carbon form, C60, called the bucky-
ball, brought the 1996 Nobel Prize in
Chemistry to Robert Curl, Sir Harold
Kroto, and Richard Smalley. It started
*
an avalanche of research into other
1 nanometre is about 8 times the nanoscale materials.
radius of an atom and 100 times
ANALOG DEVICES smaller than a bacterial cell. At this
MSSI, UL scale matter reacts differently, for
example, a material’s melting point
may change or it may become more
reactive. Nanoweek Organising Committee:
Dr. Gerard O’Connor — NUI Galway, INSPIRE
Ms. Mary Clare O’Regan — Tyndall National Institute, INSPIRE
Mr Leonard Hobbs — Intel Ireland, CCAN
AUDIT DIAGNOSTICS Dr. Diarmuid O’Brien — CRANN, INSPIRE
TYNDALL NATIONAL INSTITUTE, UCC
CIT Dr Michael John Gorman — Science Gallery
John Boland Director, CRANN Institute 13
 Specific locations, directions and event details can be found at www.nanoweek.ie

The Nanoscience Network would like to acknowledge the support of Science Foundation Ireland, the Higher Education
Authority, Enterprise Ireland, the Industrial Development Agency and Science Gallery in enabling the Nanoweek Initiative.

14 PHOTGRAPHY: © SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY & iSTOCK. DESIGNED @ DETAIL.IE