ESciNano 2012 - 2012 International Conference on Enabling Science and Nanotechnology (ESciNano)

On behalf of the Organizing Committee of Nanotech Malaysia 2010: Conference on Enabling Science and Nanotechnology (ESciNano 2010), it is my pleasure and privilege to welcome you to Malaysia, a crossroad of the West meeting East. Nanoscience and Nanotechnology has captured the attention of the world. All developed countries are trying to cash in on the intellectual property generated as devices are scaled down to nanometer scale
and their potential applications explored. Since the time de Broglie proposed dual nature of matter in 1927, as contained in the de Broglie wave equation, physicists have been unraveling the nature of these waves. It was not until around the turn of the century, that engineers got seriously involved in unraveling the mystery of quantum waves for the benefit of humanity. Traditionally, we engineers are trained through the channel of physics, chemistry, and mathematics. It is not difficult to conjecture that biology is an essential basic science for engineers to include in their future design applications. Many traditional physical scientists were unhappy when National Institute of Health (NIH) claimed the lion share of National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). NIH people were able to convince the government that the development of nanotechnology can have dramatic effect on humans. Released in December, the plan was mandated under provision of 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act, signed in to law in late 2003. U. S. NNI has become the model for similar programs around the world, including Malaysia. Considering these developments, we did include the manpower resource development through education and commercialization an essential feature of this conference.

Concerted efforts are being made, or are planned, to facilitate the conversion of research and development into products. Many U. S. entrepreneurs are looking towards Asia to develop intellectual property for profiteering from the technology. This is encouraging government-industry-business-academia interactions around the globe with a view to help each other to reap the benefit of the emerging technology, in concert with the theme of the conference. Some of the application areas include aerospace, agriculture and food, homeland security and defense, energy, environment, quantum computing, information processing, medicine and health, drug delivery, and understanding the nature of DNA in order to eradicate diseases, even to evaluate the years we will have a particular disease.

Smart materials are one application of NNI. Smart materials are dynamic in the sense that the material can change its most basic properties in response to the outside stimulus, akin to Newton’s Law of Action and Reaction. There are a number of sensors that are being investigated to monitor temperature, humidity, light, sound, electricity, presence of certain chemicals, bacteria, explosive, or DNA. Most important is these sensors are being integrated on to the chip so a variety of Nano-Electro-Mechanical Systems (NEMS) can be designed. Other applications include self-assembled biostructures with growing biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. The development in nanotechnology has even forced the Nobel Prize Committee to consider award of Nobel prizes to those technologies based on the principles of physics that have impacted the inhabitants of the global village. The sharing of this year award on communication technologies is a good example. Integration of the artificial (man-made) and the natural and synthesis of fundamental sciences and product development through technological innovations and entrepreneurship in a variety of applications will test human ingenuity as well as stretch its operational capabilities to the level never anticipated before.

Enabling science and nanotechnology, the major emphasis of this conference, will see dramatic transformation. Molecular, polymer, and DNA electronics are alternate paradigms for nanotechnology. Major advances have included inexpensive organic transistor chips to act as tags for identification of products, parcels, and postage. Every one is looking for the next innovation to bring back economic good times, and nano is become venture capitalist’s favorite. Nanoscience, nanotechnology, nanoengineering, and nanobusiness are all moving targets, creating new start-ups among the unlikely partners. The complete nano-ensemble, by its very nature is a multi- and inter-disciplinary venture. Perhaps, we don’t need the involvement only of scientists, engineers, but of thinkers, ethicists, lawyers, theologians, and needless to say world politicians. I hope this conference will trigger the debate on potential and pitfalls of nano-ensemble in its various forms. So, welcome the opportunity to be here and learn from the conference while exploring the beautiful landscape of Malaysia, its wonderful beaches, and its lion neighbor, the metropolis of Singapore known as lion city. Cultural treasures of Cambodia, Indonesia, and bio-diversity of Borneo is within reach and Air Asia will whisk you to these places for rest and recuperation before and after the conference.

I leave my address with a note of gratitude to all those who put countless hours of volunteer work to make sure that we succeed in our mission and vision of the future. Lets us stay connected as a community of scholars in service to humankind. Welcome to the opportunity in meeting professionals from all corners of the world and feel the thrills of Malaysia?Truly Asia.