Indeed, the scientific study of the world at the atomic level is
changing the larger world around us all the time. Nanotechnology is
expected to significantly impact the health, energy and environment
sectors – not just by enabling pre-existing technologies but by
developing revolutionary ones, experts said.
changing the larger world around us all the time. Nanotechnology is
expected to significantly impact the health, energy and environment
sectors – not just by enabling pre-existing technologies but by
developing revolutionary ones, experts said.
Some went further.
“The prosperity of nations will depend on how well they
commercialize nanotechnology,” Prof. Gabor L. Hornyak, a visiting
American professor at the Asian Institute of Technology’s Center of
Excellence in Nanotechnology, told fellow scientists attending the 3rd
Thailand Nanotechnology Conference 2009 organized by AIT and Nanotec
(NSTDA) titled "Nanomaterials for Energy, Health and
Environment."
commercialize nanotechnology,” Prof. Gabor L. Hornyak, a visiting
American professor at the Asian Institute of Technology’s Center of
Excellence in Nanotechnology, told fellow scientists attending the 3rd
Thailand Nanotechnology Conference 2009 organized by AIT and Nanotec
(NSTDA) titled "Nanomaterials for Energy, Health and
Environment."
In the Asian region, Thailand is one of the countries leading the
way in development of nanotechnology, Prof. Hornyak claimed. “Thailand
is fertile ground for an explosion of education in
nanotechnology.”
way in development of nanotechnology, Prof. Hornyak claimed. “Thailand
is fertile ground for an explosion of education in
nanotechnology.”
The infrastructure is very good, he said, referring to the
impressive research conducted by Nanotec in Thailand Software Park to
support nanotechnology research and development for the region.
impressive research conducted by Nanotec in Thailand Software Park to
support nanotechnology research and development for the region.
One of the country’s top nanotechnology officials expressed
similar optimism at the opening of the two-day conference at AIT on
December 21. “Thailand now has around 400 people working in the field
of nanotechnology and there are 170 master and doctoral level students
studying the subject,” Prof. Sirirurg Songsivilai, Executive Director,
National Nanotechnology Center of Thailand told a large international
collection of participants from 11 countries.
similar optimism at the opening of the two-day conference at AIT on
December 21. “Thailand now has around 400 people working in the field
of nanotechnology and there are 170 master and doctoral level students
studying the subject,” Prof. Sirirurg Songsivilai, Executive Director,
National Nanotechnology Center of Thailand told a large international
collection of participants from 11 countries.
The development of nanotechnology in Thailand is based on a
networking approach involving eight nanotechnology centers of
excellence, one of which is located at AIT, Prof. Sirirurg
explained.
networking approach involving eight nanotechnology centers of
excellence, one of which is located at AIT, Prof. Sirirurg
explained.
New paradigm needed for teaching nanotechnology?
Still, despite its enormous potential to change realities,
teaching a complex and emerging subject matter like nanotechnology has
its challenges.
teaching a complex and emerging subject matter like nanotechnology has
its challenges.
In the Asia-Pacific region, as in other parts of the world,
experts say qualified human resources are needed within a short span of
time to maintain competitiveness and enhance future economic growth of
the region.
experts say qualified human resources are needed within a short span of
time to maintain competitiveness and enhance future economic growth of
the region.
Prof. Gabor L. Hornyak, an award-winning nanotechnology expert
from the Colorado School of Mines, in making the case that
nanotechnology is no longer a sub-discipline of so-called traditional
“monolithic” disciplines of chemistry, engineering or any other
scientific field, asked how nanotechnology education should fit into
today’s universities.
from the Colorado School of Mines, in making the case that
nanotechnology is no longer a sub-discipline of so-called traditional
“monolithic” disciplines of chemistry, engineering or any other
scientific field, asked how nanotechnology education should fit into
today’s universities.
Creating a distinct undergraduate level pathway for students to
gain a strong intellectual foundation in the discipline of nanoscience,
followed by more advanced study and research of nanotechnology at the
graduate level, could be one pedagogic strategy, he suggested.
gain a strong intellectual foundation in the discipline of nanoscience,
followed by more advanced study and research of nanotechnology at the
graduate level, could be one pedagogic strategy, he suggested.
Other than the 1-year master’s program in nanotechnology offered
at AIT’s Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology, Mahidol University
offers a graduate level International Programme in Materials Science
and Engineering, with a specialty in nanotechnology. Alone in the
country, Chulalongkorn University offers an undergraduate degree
program in nanotechnology that requires 140 credits to fulfill.
at AIT’s Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology, Mahidol University
offers a graduate level International Programme in Materials Science
and Engineering, with a specialty in nanotechnology. Alone in the
country, Chulalongkorn University offers an undergraduate degree
program in nanotechnology that requires 140 credits to fulfill.
Representing the convergence of many academic disciplines,
nanotechnology is now creating opportunities to integrate creative
education across physical sciences, technology, social sciences and the
humanities, Prof. Gabor L. Hornyak argued.
nanotechnology is now creating opportunities to integrate creative
education across physical sciences, technology, social sciences and the
humanities, Prof. Gabor L. Hornyak argued.
Evolving subjects such as “mathematics for nanotechnology”,
“statistical thermodynamics”, bio-nanotechnology,” and “measurement for
instrumentation” are all critical forms of new knowledge necessary for
studying at the nanoscale of one-billionth of a meter, he
said.
“statistical thermodynamics”, bio-nanotechnology,” and “measurement for
instrumentation” are all critical forms of new knowledge necessary for
studying at the nanoscale of one-billionth of a meter, he
said.
While some naysayer conference-goers objected to bestowing
nanotechnology any form of academic status equal to traditional
subjects such as chemistry and physics, others disagreed.
nanotechnology any form of academic status equal to traditional
subjects such as chemistry and physics, others disagreed.
“Nanotechnology gives us an opportunity to teach issues in a new
way that isn’t satisfied with traditional subjects,” Prof. Joe Shapter
of Australia’s Flinders University argued. Others agreed.
“Nanotechnology is a frame of reference and gives you a language that
you can use in other academic departments,” said Dr. Yaser Greish of
UAE University, United Arab Emirates.
way that isn’t satisfied with traditional subjects,” Prof. Joe Shapter
of Australia’s Flinders University argued. Others agreed.
“Nanotechnology is a frame of reference and gives you a language that
you can use in other academic departments,” said Dr. Yaser Greish of
UAE University, United Arab Emirates.
Prof. Gabor L. Hornyak, a visiting
American professor at the Asian Institute of Technology’s Center of
Excellence in Nanotechnology.