Events Library 1996-1998
Engelbart's Unfinished Revolution: A Symposium at Stanford University. December 9, 1998. Memorial Auditorium, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA. Stanford and the Institute for the Future present a symposium to celebrate Foresight Advisor Doug Engelbart's inquiries into "Augmented Human Intellect", the revolutionary vision of the computer, first presented on December 9, 1968. "The symposium will bring together an extraordinary collection of computer visionaries to consider the impact of Augment on the last three decades of the computer revolution, to explore the challenges facing us today, and to speculate about the next three decades." Speakers include Foresight Advisors Engelbart and Stewart Brand, and Foresight Chairman Eric Drexler. For more information: http://unrev.stanford.edu
IBC's 3rd Annual Biological Approaches and Novel Applications for Molecular Nanotechnology. December 7 & 8, 1998. Mark Hopkins Intercontinental Hotel, San Francisco, CA. Includes analytic tools and characterization of nanostructures, lithography and surface patterning, self-assembling systems, DNA-based nanofabrication technology, bioinformatics, and nanostructures in therapeutics. This program will be of benefit to investigators interested in: molecular biology, physics, genetics, protein and polymer chemistry, chemical engineering, and pharmacology. Early bird discount: register by Sept. 15, 1998, and save $100. Phone 508-481-6400; fax 508-481-4473; email: klangevin@ibcusa.com; mail: IBC USA COnferences, 225 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772; WWW: http://www.ibcusa.com.
Molecular Modelling in THE LARGE: bridging scales in space, time, and complexity. 1998 International Meeting Molecular Graphics and Modeling Society, Dec. 6-10, 1998. San Diego Princess Resort, Mission Bay, San Diego, California. Eric Drexler will give the Capstone Address on Dec 10. A meeting catalysing discussion and collaboration on complex molecular systems by bringing together computational and experimental scientists working across spatial and temporal resolutions. A forum for the latest results and methods in visualizing, analyzing and designing systems from pharmaceuticals to materials science, from bioengineering to nanotechnology. Contact: Peggy Graber; (619) 784 2526; mgms98@scripps.edu. On the Web: http://www.mgmsoa.org/
MRS 1998 Fall Meeting, Nov. 30-Dec. 4, 1998, Boston, MA. Sponsored by Materials Research Society. Includes "molecularly engineered" materials for sensors, switches, wires; nonlithographic methods for organizing materials into functional structures; nanotubes and fullerenes. Tel 724-779-3003, fax 724-779-8313, email info@mrs.org, Web http://www.mrs.org/meetings/fall98/
Winning through Openness: the Fast Track to Freedom, Privacy, and Software that Works, November 24, 1998, Jefferson Club, Ming's, Palo Alto. Noon lunch talk by Chris Peterson, Foresight Executive Director. Reservations recommended, $20 for lunch and talk. Email info@jeffersonclub.ipser.com, Web http://www.ipser.com/jeffersonclub
Annual Conference on Technology & Society: Washington DC vs Silicon Valley, November 19-21, 1998, San Jose, California, sponsored by Cato Institute and Forbes ASAP. Includes "The Future of Computation" by Eric Drexler, "The Politicization of Silicon Valley" by Dan Fylstra. Tel (202) 842-0200, fax (202) 842-3490, email cato@cato.org, Web: http://cato.org/events/technol2.html. The conference was taped and is NOW AVAILABLE for viewing, courtesy of Novell, Inc. Requires RealPlayerTM which can be downloaded from the RealNetworksTM website.
Sixth Foresight Conference on Molecular Nanotechnology, November 12-15, 1998, at the Westin Hotel in Santa Clara, CA. An intensive Tutorial on Critical Enabling Technologies for Nanotechnology will be held on November 12. Enabling science and technology, computational models. Extended abstracts due 30 June 1998. Contact Foresight, tel 650-917-1122, fax 650-917-1123, email foresight@foresight.org, http://www.foresight.org/Conferences/MNT6/index.html
2nd France-Japan Workshop N2M'98. November 8-10, 1998, Toulouse (France). "The goal ... is to reinforce the existing scientific cooperation and to bridge the gap between the Nano and Macro-world through Microsystems. ... As a consequence of this workshop, a number of work groups will be established to monitor individual fields and to identify possible opportunities for scientific cooperation ... In order to maintain a workshop character and to allow for deep discussions, the number of participants will be limited to 100 persons." Workshop Secretary: Mrs. Fabienne Fichepoil, IMFC, 32 Avenue de l'Observatoire, 25044 Besançon Cedex, France Tel: +(33)-3-8166-6980 / Fax: +(33)-3-8166-6998 E-Mail: fichepoi@dr6.cnrs.fr Additional information: http://stravinsky.univ-fcomte.fr/~hoummady/n2m/
American Vacuum Society 45th International Symposium, November 2-6, 1998, at Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland. Includes technical symposium on Nanometer-scale Science and Technology. "This year's program will emphasize experimental and theoretical advances in understanding atomistic processes, novel measurement techniques, fabrication of small structures, and new applications of devices, all in nanometer sized systems." Additional information: http://www.vacuum.org/call/cfp.html
Second International Conference on Complex Systems. October 25-30, 1998. Nashua, NH. Host: New England Complex Systems Institute (http://necsi.org). Conference themes are: emergence, structure and function; informatics; complexity; dynamics. The system categories are: fundamentals, physical & chemical systems; bio-molecular & cellular systems; physiological systems; human social and economic systems; engineered systems. Application deadline is August 25. For further information: email: iccs@necsi.org; Web http://necsi.org/html/iccs2.html
2nd Intl. Conference on Evolvable Systems: From Biology to Hardware, Sept. 24-26, 1998. Lausanne, Switzerland. Includes self-replicating hardware, self-repairing hardware, applications of nanotechnology. Tutorials include "An Introduction to Molecular and DNA computing" by Prof. Max H. Garzon and "An Introduction to Nanotechnology" by Dr. James K. Gimzewski. Email Moshe.Sipper@di.epfl.ch, details on the Web at http://lslwww.epfl.ch/ices98/
Nanotechnology in Carbon and Related Materials. September 9-11, 1998. University of Sussex at Brighton, U.K. "This conference is designed to introduce those with an interest in materials to current research in carbon technology and to bring together research scientists working various disciplines in the area of nanotubes and fullerene-related nanostructures. Elemental carbon is the simplest exemplar of this nanotechnology based on covalent bonding, however other systems containing boron and nitrogen are becoming important from a research point of view, and provide alternative components with unique mechanical and electronic properties." Topics: structural characterisation and chemistry of carbon nanomaterials, control and formation of nanostructures by self-organisation, theoretical Modeling, applications and unusual properties of carbon nanostructures, structure and properties of nanostructures in everyday life. Further information: http://www.cpes.susx.ac.uk/nanotech/first.html
Fifth Int'l Conference on Nanometer-scale Science and Technology, Aug 31-Sept 4, 1998, Birmingham, UK. Contact Institute of Physics, tel +44-171 470 4800, fax +44-171-470-4900, email ivc98@iop.org. Meeting combines The Fourteenth International Vacuum Congress (IVC-14), the Tenth International Conference on Solid Surfaces (ICSS-10), the Fifth International Conference on Nanometer-scale Science and Technology (NANO 5), and the Tenth International Conference on Quantitative Surface Analysis (QSA-10). Second Announcement for the conference (Abstract Deadline: 20 February 1998) is available at http://www.iop.org/IOP/Confs/IVC/
The Next 20 YearsTM Series "An industry insiders' sneak preview of the future" August 27, 1998. Seattle, WA. Includes a talk by Dr. Ralph C. Merkle, Research Scientist, Xerox PARC, member of the Foresight Institute Board of Directors, and Advisor to the Institute for Molecular Manufacturing. Web: http://www.next20years.com/20_sea.html. Invitational only: to obtain an invitation or buy a ticket: http://www.next20years.com/20_invit.html
Superlattices, Microstructures, and Microdevices, July 27-Aug 1, 1998, Egypt. Includes nanostructures, nanotubes, self-assembly. Contact Khalid Ismail, IBM Watson, Rt 134, Yorktown Hts, NY 10598. The conference has assigned the travel agent: Global Access Limited (e-mail: global at stamet.com.eg ; Tel: 20-2-360-9949 ; Fax: 20-2-336-3929) to assist the conference attendees.
12th Symposium of the Protein Society, July 25-29, 1998, San Diego, CA. The deadline for abstracts (which can be submitted electronically) is March 25, 1998. To receive the Call for Abstracts or additional information, contact the Protein Symposium Office (tel 301-530-7010; fax 301-530-7014; email prot98mtg@faseb.org). Web: http://www.faseb.org/meetings/protein98/.
Workshop on Computational Nanotechnology, July 8-10, 1998, Colorado Springs, Colorado. To register, contact Dr. Salley Meyer, The Chemistry Department, The Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, phone (719) 389-6437, email smeyer@cc.colorado.edu. Register by May 15, 1998.
"Nanotechnology is an interdisciplinary field so researchers from all areas of science are welcome! Let's brainstorm and see how we all might work together to advance Computational Nanotechnology.
Computational Nanotechnology is now a rapid growth research area. The purpose of this workshop is to facilitate the various researchers working on Computational Nanotechnology in sharing their results and methods in a timely manner. We hope this will reduce duplication of effort, broaden the areas of research, and possibly lead to useful collaborations."
Nanotechnology for the Soldier System Conference, July 7-9, 1998. Hyatt Regency Hotel, Cambridge, MA. This conference is sponsored by the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Command (SSCOM), Army Research Office (ARO), Army Research Laboratory (ARL), and the National Science Foundation (NSF).
- Multi-agency presentations on the Army's current and near-term nanotechnology research programs
- Insight to the direction of Army research programs
- World-wide assessment overviews on current and near-term research programs
- Active participation in defining Nanotechnology research programs and funding recommendations for near-term (1-5 years), mid-term (6-19 years), and long-term (20+ years) Nanotechnology research initiatives that will benefit the Army's Soldier System and Army After Next concepts
- Collaboration across Nanotechnology disciplines
- Networking with key funding agencies and their decision makers
- Exclusive invitations to follow-on Soldier System Research Initiative Workshops
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Contact: Battelle Natick Operations, 209 West Central Street, Suite 302, Natick, MA 01760. Phone: (508) 647-1972, Fax: (508) 647-5167. email: davisdg@battelle.org. For more details: http://www.battelle.org/natick/nanotechnology/
1998 Gordon Research Conference on the Chemistry and Physics of Nanostructure Fabrication, June 21-26, 1998, Tilton School, Tilton, New Hampshire. Sessions on atom lithography, "messing with molecules", making micro lithography systems, next generation lithography with electrons, ions, X rays, DUV and EUV, DNA computing technology, nano electronics, and micro electro mechanical systems. http://www.grc.uri.edu/programs/1998/nano.htm.
For information about Gordon Research Conferences, including how to apply: http://www.grc.uri.edu/
4th Int'l Conference on Nanostructured Materials, June 14-18, 1998, Stockholm. "NANO'98 will focus on the key issues associated with the science and technology of Nanostructured Materials while promoting their commercialization for both short and long term applications." http://www.kth.se/conferences/nano98/
Nanomaterials breakout session included in AAAS Research Competitiveness Program Conference, "Networking Resources for Collaborative Research in the Southeast", June 3-5, 1998, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia. Agenda information: http://www.aaas.org/spp/dspp/rcp/gamtg/agenda.htm; to register for the conference: http://www.aaas.org/spp/dspp/rcp/gamtg/webform.htm
Nanoscience for Nanotechnology, May 16-19, 1998, Hindsgavl Slot, Denmark. "The European Commission has ... decided to support a series of three conferences in 1998, 1999 and 2000 on the subject 'Nanoscience for Nanotechnologies'. The conference is ... open for participants from EU Member States and associated countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Israel)." Workgroups will be established as a result of the conference. Preference will be given to: "young researchers (35 years and under); researchers from Europe's less favoured regions; female researchers."
http://www.cismi.dk/nano.htm
Richard Feynman Celebration, May 9, 1998. San Francisco Exploratorium. There will be a celebration of Richard Feynman's life in the form of a Birthday Party at San Francisco's Exploratorium on May 9, with many entertaining and educational events. For more information: http://www.exploratorium.edu/events/may_1998.html
International Symposium on Electronics & the Environment, May 4-6, 1998, Hyatt Regency Oak Brook, Oak Brook, IL. Sponsored by IEEE Computer Society. Advanced registration deadline: April 3, 1998. Includes talk "End-of-Life No More: The Application of Nanotechnology to Industrial Ecology" by Vincent DiRodi, Electronic Recyclers. For information, write IEEE ISEE Registrar, 445 Hoes Lane Piscataway, NJ 08855-1331 USA, tel (732) 562-3875, fax (732) 981-1203.
Materials For The 21st Century & Beyond, April 29, 1998, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Free Symposium at the Hunter College Department of Chemistry, 68th & Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10021.
- Charles M. Drain, Hunter College. "Inspirations from Biology: New Uses of Billion-Year-Old Strategies"
- Michael D. Ward, University of Minnesota. "Molecular Materials by Design: Programmed Self-Assembly of Molecular Networks for Functional Solids"
- Charles M. Lieber, Harvard University. "Chemistry & Physics in 1-D: Synthesis, Properties, & Applications of Nanostructures"
- Jean-Marie Lehn, College de France. "Towards Programmed Self-Organization of Supramolecular Materials"
- Andrew R. Barron, Rice University. Gallium Chalcogenides: "A Case Study in Molecular Control"
- Stuart Parkin, IBM Almaden "The Magic of Multilayers"
- Alex Zettl, University of California at Berkeley "The Diverse Spectrum of Carbon Nanomaterials: from Stickyballs to Tube Cubes"
- Geofrey Ozin, University of Torronto "The Language of Shape"
- Poster Session: "The New York World Of Advanced Materials" is open to all and there will be cash awards to the best student posters.
Contact: Charles Michael Drain, Professor of Chemistry, Hunter College Department of Chemistry, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10021-5024, Phone: (212) 650-3322, Lab Phone: (212) 650-3827, FAX: (212) 772-5332, e-mail: cdrain@shiva.hunter.cuny.edu. For further details: http://sonhouse.hunter.cuny.edu/conferences/symposium98.html
The Alcor Third Annual Cryonics Conference was held April 3-5 in Scottsdale (near Phoenix) Arizona. Registration by March 3rd is $149. More info at http://www.alcor.org/eventsb.html#con or call Alcor at 1-800-367-2228.
Device Applications of Nanoscale Materials Symposium, March 29-April 3, 1998, Dallas, Texas, at the 1998 National Meeting of the American Chemical Society. "The two main purposes of this symposium are (1) to demonstrate current, innovative applications of chemistry in the nanometer size regime for use in device electronics and optoelectronics and (2) to identify potential areas for partnerships between industry and academia where research in nanoscale chemistry can be applied to emerging technologies." Invited speakers who were also speaking at the November, 1997 Foresight Conference include James R. Von Ehr II, James M. Tour, and Jie Han. For more information or abstract form, contact Dr. Sean C. O'Brien, c/o John St. John, Box 298860 TCU Chemistry Department, Fort Worth, Texas 76129, tel (817) 921-7195, email stjohn@gamma.is.tcu.edu
Worldwide evaluation of nanotechnology, February 10, 1998, Arlington, Virginia. The following email announcement contains the details:
Dear Colleagues,
The results of a worldwide evaluation study on nanotechnology will be presented on Tuesday, February 10, 9 am - 5 pm, 1998, at the Rosslyn Westpark Hotel (Holiday Inn), 1900 N. Fort Meyer Drive, Arlington, VA (703-807-2000, station Rosslyn on the Blue and Orange subway lines). We expect experts from universities, industry and over twelve federal agencies. The study is cosponsored by NSF, NIH, ONR, NASA, NIST, DOE, AFOSR, and DOC. Two reference volumes will be available at the workshop. There is no registration fee. The basic information (including registration form) is on the following Web site: http://itri.loyola.edu/nano/workshop.htm.
The workshop content, in brief, is:
"Global Assessment of Research and Development in Nanoparticles, Nanostructured Materials and Nanodevices"
8:15 Registration (Coffee & pastries provided)
9:00 Introduction to WTEC, Background of Study (WTEC, NSF) —Welcoming Remarks, Joseph Bordogna, Acting Deputy Director, NSF
9:15 Executive Summary (Siegel, RPI)
10:00 Synthesis & Assembly (Hu, UCSB; Shaw, SUNY)
10:45 Dispersions & Coatings (Mendel, Kodak))
11:30 High-Surface-Area Materials (Cox, Exxon)
12:15 Lunch (by reservation only)
1:15 Functional Nanostructures & Devices (Goronkin, Motorola)
2:00 Consolidated Materials (Koch, NCSU)
2:45 Biological Approaches & Applications (Jelinski, Cornell U.)
3:30 Conclusions (Siegel, Hu)
4:00 Opinions from Federal Funding Agencies (Roco, Moderator)
We expect an interesting workshop. You are invited to attend.
I encourage you to forward this announcement to your colleagues interested in nanotechnology. Thank you.
Mike Roco NSF, Coordinator of the Nanotechnology Group, mroco@nsf.gov, 703-306-1371, Fax 703-306-0319
See report on this meeting in Update 32.
Molecular Electronics: Science and Technology, Dec. 14-18, 1997. Puerto Rico. Molecular wires, switches, devices; self-assembly; SPM manipulation. Engineering Foundation, tel 212-705-7836, fax 212-705-7441, email engfnd@aol.com, http://www.engfnd.org and http://www.engfnd.org/8ap.html
IBC's 2nd Annual International Conference on Biological Approaches and Novel Applications for Molecular Nanotechnology, December 8-9, 1997, with a pre-conference mini-symposium on Dec. 8 on Micromachining Technologies for Bioscience Applications, La Jolla, CA. Includes controlled incorporation of biomolecules in nanodevices, biosynthetic devices, sensor applications, biochemical separations, novel strategies for self-assembly of nanodevices, use of nanostructures in therapeutics. Tel: (508) 481-6400, Fax: (508) 481-7911, E-mail: inq@ibcusa.com, http://www.ibcusa.com/
SC97: High Performance Networking and Computing, Nov. 15-21, 1997, San Jose. Includes Deepak Srivastava on molecular dynamics simulation of large-scale carbon nanotubes, David Brin on "Pflops, Box Office Hits, and the Human Singularity—Will we Remain Human Long Enough to Collect Social Security?" tel 510-294-2629, fax 510-294-3422, email sc97@mail.supercomp.org, http://www.supercomp.org/sc97
7th Int'l Symposium on Molecular Electronics and Biocomputing, Nov. 10-12, 1997, Nanjing, PR China. tel +86-25-361-9983, fax +86-25-771-2719, email zhlu@seu.edu.cn, http://www.lmbe.seu.edu.cn/welcome.html
Fifth Foresight Conference on Molecular Nanotechnology, Nov. 5-8, 1997, Palo Alto, CA. Enabling science and technology, computational models. Contact Foresight, tel 415-917-1122, fax 415-917-1123, email foresight@foresight.org, http://www.foresight.org/Conferences/MNT05/Nano5.html
American Vacuum Society Annual Meeting, Oct 20-24, 1997, San Jose, CA. Includes nanoscale science & technology. tel 212-248-0200, fax 212-248-0245, email avsnyc@vacuum.org, http://www.vacuum.org.
Nanomachine conference: 1997 Albany Conference On Biomolecular Motors And Nanomachines was held September 4-7, 1997, in Rensselaerville, New York. Complete text of the CALL FOR PARTICIPATION; see Conference Home Page for further information.
Extropy conference to highlight nanotechnology and AI issues: Quite a few Foresight members and Senior Associates spoke at the EXTRO 3 meeting at the Doubletree Hotel in San Jose, August 9-10, 1997. Full details are at: http://www.extropy.com/~exi/ex3/extro3.htm or can be requested from
Max More, Ph.D.
more@extropy.org
phone: 310-398-0375
http://www.maxmore.com/ President, Extropy Institute: exi-info@extropy.org, http://www.extropy.org
Listed below are a few of the speakers whose names may be familiar to Foresight members:
| SATURDAY |
8:30pm (approx.): |
Keynote Speaker
—K. Eric Drexler |
| SUNDAY |
8:45-9:55am: |
Computer Security as the
Future of Law
—Mark Miller |
| |
11:30am-12:50pm: |
AI Onset Panel
—Marvin Minsky, Chair
—Carl Feynman
—Robin Hanson
—Ralph Merkle |
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2:45-4:05pm: |
Investing in the Future
Panel
—Gayle Pergamit
—Courtney Smith |
| |
4:10-5:20pm: |
Radical High-Tech
Environmentalists
—Chris Peterson |
Story in Update 30
Nobel Laureate to address National Science Foundation on "The Nanometer Age, Challenges and Choices" Dr. Heinrich Rohrer, who together with Gerd Binnig was awarded the 1986 Nobel prize for physics for the invention of the scanning tunneling microscope, will address the National Science Foundation in Arlington, VA on June 16, 1997. The event is open to the public, and the National Science Foundation has posted on the Web more information and directions for visitors. Rohrer is to discuss how advances in current miniaturization technology and in assembling objects from molecular building blocks will together lead to building complex objects molecule by molecule. Rohrer's talk is part of NSF's "Distinguished Lecture Series."
International Workshop on New Approaches to Hi-Tech Materials 97. Nondestructive Testing and Computer Simulations in Materials Science and Engineering. 9 - 12 June, 1997. St.Petersburg, Russia. Complete text of Announcement
Nanotechnology and Micromachining talks at Stanford: A series of talks on "Nanotechnologies and Micromachining in Japan and The U.S." will be given every Thursday, 4/3 through 5/29, at 4:15 - 5:30 pm, at Stanford University Terman Auditorium. These talks are open to the public and free of charge. For more information, see: http://fuji.stanford.edu:80/COURSES/SPRING97/table.html. The Web site for these talks includes a page of nanotechnology links that is especially strong on nanotechnology in Japan.
Senior Associate mini-gathering: was held May 2-4, 1997. Find out more about the Senior Associates Program.
Merkle speaks at RAND Critical Technologies seminar on nanotechnology: The Critical Technologies Institute at RAND has organized a series of five seminars that "will explore technologies emerging on the horizon of development... The five areas of science that will be explored are electronics (quantum computing), manufacturing (nanotechnology), space (solar- powered space based satellites), energy (antimatter), and biotechnology (biosensors)."
Information is available on their Web page: http://www.rand.org/centers/cti/events/ctiseminar.html
Foresight Director Dr. Ralph Merkle will speak at the seminar "Nanotechnology Applications in a Space-Based Environment," scheduled for Tuesday, March 25, 1997 (but please call to confirm).
In describing the seminar, CTI notes that "Since the 1993 CTI seminar on nanotechnology, the field has developed quickly enough to warrant a second look at this technology. The field has gone from a 'what if' to a 'how' mode, with engineers exploring the use of scanning tunneling microscopes and other production tools to assemble complex structures from the atomic level on up, as nature does, molecule by molecule."
Drexler speaks at American Society for Quality Control conference: K. Eric Drexler, Ph.D., Research Fellow of the Institute for Molecular Manufacturing, spoke at the American Society for Quality Control conference in Los Angeles, held February 27-28, 1997.
Event: American Society for Quality Control, Quality Audit Division conference
Dates: February 27-28, 1997
Location: Westin Hotel at Los Angeles Airport
Keynote Speaker: Richard Brodie, author, Virus of the Mind: The New Science of the Meme. "Becoming a Vector for the Quality Virus"
Richard Brodie RBrodie@brodietech.com +1.206.688.8600
CEO, Brodie Technology Group, Inc., Bellevue, WA, USA http://www.brodietech.com/rbrodie
Do you know what a "meme" is? http://www.brodietech.com/rbrodie/meme.htm
Luncheon Speaker: K. Eric Drexler, author, Nanosystems: Molecular Machines, Manufacturing, and Computation. "Quality Auditing for 21st Century Products: the Goal of Atom-by-Atom Precision"
Over the next few decades, manufacturing will undergo a profound change. Advances in miniaturization will bottom out at the level of individual atoms -- more and more, products will be designed and built to atomically-precise specifications.
We can see the early signs of this today in many fields. Pharmaceutical companies routinely design and build drug molecules. Companies such as DuPont design and build proteins for their products. Academic researchers are building small three-dimensional objects of DNA. And atomically-precise probe instruments -- such as the scanning tunneling microscope -- are being used by IBM and Japanese companies to position and even bond single molecules, with the goal of making atomically-precise computer chips.
This will change what we mean by "quality." Today's products have billions of atoms in non-optimal locations, and defects which are huge when considered at the molecular scale. The coming implementation of molecular manufacturing -- also known as nanotechnology -- can redefine quality to include requiring a product to have virtually all its atoms in a specific, designed location.
What will this mean for quality auditing? This change represents a tremendous raising of standards in manufacturing. As in some industries today, quality audits will evaluate processes at scales invisible to the naked eye, eliminating visual inspection as a useful tool. Instead, quality auditors will need to understand and evaluate the molecular manufacturing process itself, which is based on a combination of chemistry, mechanical engineering, and software. To do this effectively, quality auditors will need to become familiar with the technical basics of these new processes -- to think in a three-dimensional way about processes at the atomic level.
I look forward to discussing these issues with you at the February QAD meeting.
Cost: $425 before 2/8, $495 thereafter
To register, call 1-800-248-1946
AAAS Annual Meeting & Science Innovation Exposition: Feb. 13-18, 1997, Seattle, Washington. Includes computational chemistry, quantum computation. Tel 202-326-6450, fax 202-289-4021, email amsie97@aaas.org, Web www.aaas.org/meetings/meetings.htm
International Business Communications held a molecular nanotechnology conference: IBC hosted a conference similar in focus to the Foresight conferences: Biological Approaches and Novel Applications for Molecular Nanotechnology, held Dec. 9-11, 1996, in San Diego. Read the report in Update 27.
The 1996 Gathering of Senior Associates has occurred. A gathering for Senior Associates of the Foresight family of organizations was held from October 18-20, 1996. Updates were presented by Eric Drexler, Ralph Merkle, and other key players in nanotechnology on where nanotechnology stands 10 years after the publication of Engines of Creation. To share in what happened at the Gathering, see the report in Update 27.
Foresight Ten-Year Anniversary Celebration: 1996 is the ten-year anniversary of the publication of Engines of Creation and of the founding of the Foresight Institute. A celebration was held in Palo Alto on October 19, 1996.
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