June 30, 2010 –
The group poses in front of HIPerWall, with the satellite view of Imperial College London behind them. (photo: Goran Matijasevic)
Fourteen graduate students studying nanomaterials at England’s Imperial College London are sufficiently acquainted with the scientific aspects of their field. What they are not as familiar with is the emphasis on multidisciplinary research they witnessed during a recent tour of CALIT2 and several affiliated research centers.
The directors of the Master in Research Nanomaterials Programme at the school in the United Kingdom wanted to learn more about CALIT2 and requested the tour as part of the group’s visit to Orange County to attend last week’s Nanotech 2010 conference in Anaheim.
Physics professor Siwy discusses her research.
Irvine division director G.P. Li welcomed the group, delivering an overview of CALIT2, after which Goran Matijasevic showed them around. Stops included the Integrated Nanosystems Research Facility, the BiON lab, the Materials Characterization Center, the National Fuel Cell Research Center, and the lab of professor Mark Madou. They also were presented with a research discussion from physics professor Zuzanna Siwy.
The students were especially impressed with the multidisciplinary collaborations, according to program director Nicholas Harrison. “The fact that there are so many disciplines coming together and the very close relationship between the research in the lab and the [applications of] the technology … you’re doing very fundamental research that supports technology applications very quickly.”
Speaking for the entire group, Harrison deemed the visit an unqualified success. “The enthusiasm of the staff here was really infectious and the students were enthused and inspired by what they saw today,” he noted.
— Anna Lynn Spitzer
