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Date:  Thu, April 14, 2016
Time:  11:30 am
Location:  Holmes Hall 244
Speaker:  Nora Savage, Nano Program Director, NSF

Sponsored by the College of Engineering "Professors and Pizza" seminar series

The development and use of nanotechnology could have a dramatic impact on our global society, due to the potential to substantially improve the characteristics and performance of a number of commercial products. Potential applications include medical imaging and therapies, environmental restoration and protection, electronics, energy storage, generation and distribution, food protection and production and water remediation and conservation. Consequently, government agencies around the world are supporting the development of this technology in a number of ways to improve public health and environmental protection, as well as to increase economic benefits and enhance quality of life. These organizations recognize the technology’s potential for improving public health and welfare. A critical factor for successfully implementing and managing nanotechnology, realizing the benefits while minimizing detriments requires examination of the interactions of these particles at interfaces within biological and ecological systems. Research funding and interest has embraced proactive consideration of potential adverse impacts of nanoparticles from the beginning of the development of nanotechnology. Such research exploring toxicity, fate and transport, and exposure assessments for nanoparticles has increased more than tenfold in the decade between 1995 and 2015. The resulting information has provided data snapshots”’ of selected nanoparticles in specific media, at selected time points of the material/particle life cycle. It is clear that a more strategic research focus that probes the basic mechanistic behavior of nanoparticles is needed. A targeted research program with the goal of elucidating the interfacial behaviors of nanoparticles may well be the starting point. Characterization of nanoparticle interactions and the resulting behaviors and transformations, along with the previous research data can move science forward towards the development of models and tools to anticipate impacts of nanomaterials and other emerging materials at their creation.The purpose of this presentation is to describe the Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems (CBET) Division's Nano Program within the Engineering Directorate of the National Science Foundation (NSF). The presentation will provide grant Information for PIs, as well as award information for students. Information concerning CBET’s nano activities within Engineering, both national and international will also be provided. Guidance and tips will be provided for optimizing proposal applications.