General

The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology conference, AMN-4, will be held in Dunedin, 8-12 February 2009.

Visit the AMN-4 website!

Nobel Prize winners in Physics and Chemistry, John Hall and Harry Kroto, have confirmed they will be attending AMN-4 and giving plenary talks.

Professor John Hall won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2005 for pioneering work in laser-based precision spectroscopy, including the well known optical frequency comb. This work has many applications including in frequency metrology, high-energy physics, and tests of fundamental theories.

Professor Sir Harry Kroto won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1996. His research interests span a number of related areas including the spectroscopy of unstable species and reaction intermediates, spectroscopy in astrophysics, cluster science (carbon and metal clusters, microparticles, nanofibres) and fullerene chemistry, nanoscience and nanotechnology.

They are both wonderful ambassadors for science. We are fortunate to have them on-board.

Photos from AMN-3: Conference on Advanced Materials and Nonotechnology

The 3rd annual NanoCamp was held at Massey University during the week January 17-21, 2011. Around 200 applications were received from Year 12 students, and we offered places to 10 students from around New Zealand as well as two from the Palmerston North area. All 12 students accepted this invitation.

The camp featured eight three-hour science sessions where students explored various aspects of nanotechnology under the guidance of Massey academic staff and postgraduate students. Most of these academic staff members were either MacDiarmid PI’s or AI’s. The science sessions focussed on:
 

1. Fabrication of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs)
2. Synthesis and properties of conducting polymers
3. Theoretical aspects of nanoscience
4. Synthesis of quantum dots
5. Optical tweezers
6. Atomic force microscopy (AFM)
7. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
8. Nanoparticles and devices.

An evening social programme complemented the science sessions. The students went bowling, go- karting, swimming, watched DVDs (including the Alan MacDiarmid documentary ‘Super Plastics Man’) etc. The students stayed on-site in the halls of residence (except those coming from the local area).

The students were given a brief survey towards then end of the week and the feedback was uniformly positive. The event was covered in the media following a press release from Massey University.

11

"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower"
- Apple co-founder Steve Jobs

The MacDiarmid and BIC institutes are sponsoring an Innovation Workshop on 15 June 2011, to be held at the University of Canterbury. The workshop is open to ALL MacDiarmid and BIC staff and students. If you would like to develop your bright idea, or simply want to find out more about the commercialization process, come along and gain from the knowledge of those who have already been there.

Speakers include successful innovators ranging from students through to business people. They include Guy Horrocks, Keith Alexander, Ralph Bungard, Bob Buckley and Phil Holliday. More about these people and the format of the workshop may be found on the attachment.

Please note that attendance will be strictly limited to 30 people. To reserve your place please e-mail Rebekah Hunt before Friday 13 May.

Students / Postdocs: if you are not based in Christchurch we hope your PI will be will be willing to pay for your air fare, but if you have any difficulties in this regard please contact Rebekah in the first instance.

Simon Brown (MacDiarmid) and Bill Swallow (BIC)

2012 Transit of Venus Forum - Lifting our Horizon

Join delegates from the science, business, iwi and government communities at the Transit of Venus Forum to hear some of New Zealand’s leading thinkers advance Sir Paul Callaghan’s vision for New Zealand – a place where talent wants to live – a community that is prosperous and inclusive. Attendance at the forum is by invitation, or you can register directly for the open places (these are limited so don’t delay).

Objectives for the Forum

• To inspire younger people to play a role in our future.
• To give people across all sectors a scientific, and therefore apolitical, evidence-based summary of New Zealand’s current realities, risks and opportunities.
• To introduce iwi investors and leaders to the science community and broaden their thinking about investment opportunities.
• To inspire thinking about what we could do to make a living that is not asset- depleting or harmful to our environment or people.
• To support small communities and provincial centres with sustainable development plans.

For more information, visit the Forum webiste.

Register now for this extrordinary event.  Limited places remain.