Nanotechnology, a term that embraces a wide spectrum of technological endeavours, is attracting tremendous attention in industrialised countries worldwide both in terms of fundamental scientific research and technological development, and is predicted to be a technological “hallmark” of the 21st century. The future promise of the technology is immense and the present effort is intense. In recognition of its importance, the US Government established a multi-agency group to oversee and coordinate research into nanotechnology. The National Nanotechnology Initiative was established in 2001 and has an allocated budget for 2004 of US$847 million. Similar targeting is also prevalent in the UK, Japan, Germany and other developed countries. Research in this area is consistent with DEST/ARC National Research Priority - “Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries”.

The endeavour of nanotechnology encompasses multiple efforts across a range of scientific and technological disciplines, such as Chemistry and Physics, Engineering, and Biological and Biomedical sciences. In order to make significant progress in this field there is a strong need to foster work across traditional academic and institutional boundaries.

In recognition of this need, UWA, through the Institute of Advanced Studies and the Materials Science and Engineering Discipline Group, is planning to organise a Workshop on Nanotechnology in July 2005. The specific aim of the workshop is to provide attendees with a detailed understanding and know-how of a variety of aspects of nanotechnology. In doing this we seek to establish and to invigorate synergistic interactions between different research groups in WA and to establish and to enhance collaboration with high calibre national and international researchers.

The Workshop will be conducted on four different levels in order to maximise the benefits to the WA community. The first level will consist of multi-session tutorials given by invited international and national researchers, which will cover background, basic sciences and key technological developments. Following this will be research level seminars of leading edge work that has been performed both here and overseas. In parallel, a public lecture by a high profile speaker will be held to bridge between science and the general community on the issue of this cutting edge technology. Finally, a poster session will provide an opportunity for postgraduate students and local researchers to present their work and access both valuable experience and feedback from some of the leading experts in their research areas.