Welcome to the Virginia Nanotech Connection. This site is the presentation of an ongoing student project. The purpose of the Virginia Nanotech Connection project is to develop a statewide resource for nanotechnology. Virginia has considerable activity in nanotechnology at many levels; education, cutting edge research, and the application of nanotechnology in commercial endeavors, large and small. However, information about many of these programs is not publicly advertised. The goal of this project is to highlight nanotechnology activities from across the Commonwealth and provide an overview of example applications that nanotechnology will impact. We also hope it will serve as a source of information and a resource to educate students, policy makers, teachers and the general public as to what and where nano is happening in Virginia.
A nanometer is just a billionth of a meter, a few atoms wide, or approximately 1/100,000th the thickness of a piece of paper. Researchers are discovering that many materials behave differently at the nanoscale. They can have novel and extraordinary properties. These properties can be exploited for many different applications. Therefore, the impact of nanotechnology will be tremendous, as it is not a single material or device, it is the ability to manipulate and image matter at the nanoscale for many uses.
Nanotechnology is having an impact now due to the development of tools and instruments to control and evaluate matter at the atomic and molecular level. Nanotechnology is beyond the research stage and is having an impact in commercial products. An industry expert estimates that in 2006, approximately $1 billion manufactured goods in Virginia incorporated nanotechnology. Nanotechnology activities from around the state will be presented by end use. For example, the nanoelectronics, nanomedicine and the utilization of nanoscience for clean energy technologies.
We welcome your feedback and acknowledge the generous contributions by Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, sponsors of the Atlantic NanoForum, and from AdviSci.
Website by Matthew C. Smith