Swiss Nanoscience Institute

Last updated
Swiss Nanoscience Institute
Logo of Swiss Nanoscience Institute SNI.png
Established2006
HeadProf. Martino Poggio (director)
Owner University of Basel, Canton Aargau
Location
Basel
,
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland
Website Swiss Nanoscience Institute

The Swiss Nanoscience Institute (SNI) at the University of Basel is a center of excellence for nanosciences and nanotechnology in Northwestern Switzerland (Aargau, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, and Solothurn). It was founded in 2006 by the Canton of Aargau and the University of Basel to succeed the National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) Nanoscale Science. [1] [2] [3] Its mission is to support research, technology transfer, and academics in the nanoscience's and nanotechnology. [4] [5] The SNI is based on an interdisciplinary network of partner organizations and researchers who participate in basic or applied research projects and are involved in educating nanoscience's students and doctoral students at the University of Basel. [6] The SNI includes the Nano Technology Center at the University of Basel, which encompasses the Nano Imaging Lab and the Nano Fabrication Lab. These two service units provide academic institutions and industrial companies with services in the areas of microscopic imaging and analysis (electron microscopy and scanning probe microscopy) and nanofabrication.

Contents

Education

The SNI organizes and coordinates the interdisciplinary bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in nanosciences at the University of Basel, which have been offered since 2002. [7] [8]

Students on the bachelor’s program first receive a comprehensive grounding in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics and can then choose from an extensive range of electives over the course of their studies. [9] Students on the master’s program choose one specialization module from the fields of nanobiology, medical nanosciences, nanochemistry and nanophysics but their education remains otherwise interdisciplinary until the end of the master’s degree program. The course is intended to qualify students for future work at the interface between different disciplines, where they can help to solve outstanding societal challenges. [10]

In 2012, the SNI expanded its program to include PhD students. [11] Based at the University of Basel, this school has around 40 international doctoral students enrolled in any given year. [4]

Research and technology transfer

Nanoscience at the SNI: Sample in the high vacuum chamber of a scanning probe microscope. Rastersondenmikroskop, Christine Moller SNI.jpg
Nanoscience at the SNI: Sample in the high vacuum chamber of a scanning probe microscope.

In the SNI network, interdisciplinary teams conduct basic and applied research in various fields, such as the life sciences, medical technology, sensor technology, photonics, phononics and materials science. At the same time, the SNI provides financial support for the two Argovia professors Roderick Lim (nanobiology) and Martino Poggio (nanomagnetism, nanosensors) as well as three titular professors at the Paul Scherrer Institute, each of whom has a teaching contract at the University of Basel.

As part of the Nano-Argovia program, the SNI actively supports knowledge and technology transfer to industrial companies from Northwestern Switzerland. [12] [13]

Collaboration with industry is also supported by the ANAXAM technology transfer center, of which the SNI is a founding member. ANAXAM provides companies throughout Switzerland with access to state-of-the-art analytical methods. Founded in 2023, the Swiss Photonics Integration Center (Swiss PIC) has plans to provide these companies with access to, in particular, innovative optical systems. [14]

Services

The Nano Imaging Lab of the Swiss Nanoscience Institute Nano Imaging Lab Christine Moller.jpg
The Nano Imaging Lab of the Swiss Nanoscience Institute

The SNI is available as a provider of various services to partners in academia and industry. [15] Forming part of the SNI since 2016, the Nano Imaging Lab (NI Lab) provides comprehensive services in the area of surface imaging and analysis. [16]

Organization

The SNI is managed by an Executive Committee whose members include the director of the SNI, professors from network partners and the SNI General Manager. The Executive Committee ensures communication with network partners, decides on the allocation of funding and is accountable to the highest supervisory body, the Argovia Committee. Moreover, the Executive Committee is also responsible for ensuring compliance with university guidelines and contractual agreements with the Canton of Aargau. [17]

The SNI includes all project leaders involved in SNI projects, all doctoral students, the staff of the Nano Technology Center, the SNI management team, and voluntary members. At the end of 2022, the SNI had 166 members. [18] From 2006 to 2022, the SNI was led by Professor Christian Schönenberger as its director. Professor Martino Poggio became the new director in August 2022. [19]

Public relations

The SNI team plays an active role in public relations and outreach with a view to providing information about the nanosciences in general, encouraging an interest in the natural sciences, and helping a wide audience gain a better understanding of research work. To this end, the institute arranges visitor programs and workshops for school classes, maintains a presence at science fairs and provides extensive materials, including instructions for experiments that people can carry out themselves. [20] [21] [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brownian motor</span> Nanoscale machine

Brownian motors are nanoscale or molecular machines that use chemical reactions to generate directed motion in space. The theory behind Brownian motors relies on the phenomenon of Brownian motion, random motion of particles suspended in a fluid resulting from their collision with the fast-moving molecules in the fluid.

Engineering physics (EP), sometimes engineering science, is the field of study combining pure science disciplines and engineering disciplines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nanotechnology education</span> Learning and teaching related to nanotechnology

Nanotechnology education involves a multidisciplinary natural science education with courses such as physics, chemistry, mathematics, and molecular biology. It is being offered by many universities around the world. The first program involving nanotechnology was offered by the University of Toronto's Engineering Science program, where nanotechnology could be taken as an option.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Alivisatos</span> American chemist and university administrator

Armand Paul Alivisatos is a Greek-American etymologist, chemist and academic administrator who has served as the 14th president of the University of Chicago since September 2021. He is a pioneer in nanomaterials development and an authority on the fabrication of nanocrystals and their use in biomedical and renewable energy applications. He was ranked fifth among the world's top 100 chemists for the period 2000–2010 in the list released by Thomson Reuters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karlsruhe Institute of Technology</span> Public university in Karlsruhe, Germany

The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology is both a German public research university in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, and a research center of the Helmholtz Association.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to nanotechnology:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California NanoSystems Institute</span> American integrated research center

The California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) is an integrated research center operating jointly at UCLA and UC Santa Barbara. Its missions are to foster interdisciplinary collaborations for discoveries in nanosystems and nanotechnology; train the next generation of scientists, educators, and technology leaders; and facilitate partnerships with industry, fueling economic development and the social well-being of California, the United States and the world.

The College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering is part of the University at Albany, SUNY in Albany, New York. Founded in 2004 at the University at Albany, SUNY, the college underwent rapid expansion in the late-2000s and early-2010s before merging with the SUNY Institute of Technology in 2014. The college rejoined the University at Albany in 2023. The college was the first college in the United States devoted to nanotechnology.

NanoNed is the Nanotechnology Research and Development initiative of Dutch Government. It is financed Ministry of Economic Affairs (Netherlands).Dutch Technology Foundation STW is responsible for the program management of NanoNed. It is a consortium of seven universities, TNO and Philips. University of Leiden, University of Utrecht and FOM institute AMOLF in Amsterdam are also the partners of NanoNed. Around 400 researchers are working within all these partners. On the basis of National Research and Development strength and industrial needs, 11 interdependent program has developed and named as "Flagship". Each of these flagships is led by a "Flagship Captain". In 2009, more than 400 researchers are working in different 200 projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology</span>

The Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology (CoEN) is a nanotechnology facility located at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). It is one of the 8 centers of excellence in Thailand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center</span>

Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), is an interdisciplinary research and teaching center for nanoscience at Aarhus University in Aarhus, Denmark. The center was founded in 2002 and has been headquartered in The iNano House since 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kang L. Wang</span>

Kang Lung Wang is recognized as the discoverer of chiral Majorana fermions by IUPAP. Born in Lukang, Changhua, Taiwan, in 1941, Wang received his BS (1964) degree from National Cheng Kung University and his MS (1966) and PhD (1970) degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1970 to 1972 he was the Assistant Professor at MIT. From 1972 to 1979, he worked at the General Electric Corporate Research and Development Center as a physicist/engineer. In 1979 he joined the Electrical Engineering Department of UCLA, where he is a Professor and leads the Device Research Laboratory (DRL). He served as Chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering at UCLA from 1993 to 1996. His research activities include semiconductor nano devices, and nanotechnology; self-assembly growth of quantum structures and cooperative assembly of quantum dot arrays Si-based Molecular Beam Epitaxy, quantum structures and devices; Nano-epitaxy of hetero-structures; Spintronics materials and devices; Electron spin and coherence properties of SiGe and InAs quantum structures for implementation of spin-based quantum information; microwave devices. He was the inventor of strained layer MOSFET, quantum SRAM cell, and band-aligned superlattices. He holds 45 patents and published over 700 papers. He is a passionate teacher and has mentored hundreds of students, including MS and PhD candidates. Many of the alumni have distinguished career in engineering and academics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Institute of Nano Science and Technology</span> Indian research institution

The Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) is an autonomous research institution of Department of Science and Technology (India), under the Society Registration Act, 1960, under the umbrella of national mission on Nano Science and Technology (NANO MISSION)", which aims to promote growth and outreach of nanoscience and technology for the benefit of country. INST has been set up to undertake research and generate products/devices and technology in the area of Nanoscience and Technology. The institute aims to carry out research in the diverse and rapidly growing areas of nanoscience and technology with specific emphasis on the following areas: Agricultural Nanotechnology, Nanomedicine, Energy and Environmental Science, Quantum Materials and Device Physics, Nano Electronics, Microfluidics Based Technologies, Nanobiotechnology

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roderick Lim</span> Singaporean nano- and biophysicist

Roderick Y. H. Lim is a Singaporean nano- and biophysicist at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel, Switzerland.

The International Institute for Nanotechnology (IIN) was established by Northwestern University in 2000. It was the first institute of its kind in the United States and is one of the premier nanoscience research centers in the world. Today, the IIN represents and unites more than $1 billion in nanotechnology research, educational programs, and supporting infrastructure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adolphe Merkle Institute</span> Swiss nanotechnology research center

The Adolphe Merkle Institute (AMI) is a research center in Fribourg, Switzerland focused on nanoscience. The institute is named after the Swiss entrepreneur Adolphe Merkle who created the foundation that partially funded the institute.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Centre for Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies</span>

The Centre for Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies or C2N, is a nanotechnology laboratory created as joint research unit between the University of Paris-Saclay and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS).

Malik Maaza, also written as Mâaza, is an African physicist and UNESCO Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology. He has made significant contributions in the field of physics, particularly in nanosciences and nanotechnology. Maaza has received several prestigious awards for his contributions, including the Order of Mapungubwe, the Spirit of Abdus Salam Award, and recognition from the World Cultural Council regarding his work in education and research in physics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martino Poggio</span> Italian-american nanophysicist

Martino Poggio is an Italian-American nanophysicist who has been a professor of physics at the University of Basel (Switzerland) since 2009 and director of the Swiss Nanoscience Institute at the University of Basel since August 2022. In addition, he was head of the Department of Physics at the University of Basel from September 2019 to August 2021 and then deputy head until August 2023. From 2020 to 2022, Poggio also served as co-director of the National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) QSIT.

References

  1. ↑ "Swiss Nanoscience Institute (SNI) | Department of Physics". physik.unibas.ch. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  2. ↑ "Swiss Nanoscience Institute an der Universität Basel eröffnet" (in German). Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  3. ↑ "Aargauer Geld für «Swiss Nano Center»". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German). 22 November 2005. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  4. 1 2 SNI Annual Report 2022, p. 8
  5. ↑ "About us" . Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  6. ↑ "Network partner" . Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  7. ↑ "Die Welt der kleinsten Teilchen: Studium Nanowissenschaften" (in German). 29 April 2021. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  8. ↑ "Study nanoscience in Basel" . Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  9. ↑ "5 Gründe für ein Studium in Nanowissenschaften!" (in German). 20 January 2022. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  10. ↑ "Die Nanotechnologie ist eine der Schlüsseltechnologien der Zukunft" (in German). Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  11. ↑ "Interview: Martino Poggio". 8 November 2022. Archived from the original on 2023-07-26. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  12. ↑ "Applied research in the Nano-Argovia program" . Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  13. ↑ "Das Institut der kleinen Dinge" (in German). 17 November 2006. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  14. ↑ "Swiss PIC to support Swiss photonics industry". 30 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  15. ↑ "Kanton unterstützt die Forschung, weil Nano und Argovia Geschwister sind" (in German). 29 June 2012. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  16. ↑ "Services" . Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  17. ↑ "Organization" . Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  18. ↑ "SNI members" . Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  19. ↑ "A passion for nano research – Martino Poggio to become new SNI Director". Swiss Nanoscience Institute. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
  20. ↑ "Outreach and Communication" . Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  21. ↑ Simon Erlanger (November 30, 2020). "Lichtblicke in der Dunkelheit" (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  22. ↑ "MINT unterwegs: Die Zugfahrt für naturwissenschaftliche Experimente nutzen" (in German). March 23, 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-21.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.