By Emily Hubbell

NQPI was showcased on an international level this summer when Athens hosted the joint NSS5-SPSTM2 conference.

The conference, consisting of lectures, poster presentations and social activities, was held in Baker University Center over four days this July. Previous conference hosts include Tokyo and Hamburg.

More than one hundred experts and grad students from fourteen countries traveled to OU to discuss current issues in nanoscience and to present their latest research.

The conference consisted of two parallel sessions, the NSS5—Nanoscale Spectroscopy and Nanotechnology 5, chaired by Dr. Saw-Wai Hla, associate professor  of physics and astronomy—and SPSTM2—Spin-Polarized Scanning Tunneling Microscopy 2, chaired by Dr. Arthur Smith, professor of physics and astronomy.

Attendees could follow their own interests and attend lectures from both sessions.

Top international and national experts also delivered plenary lectures, said Mala Braslavsky, conference coordinator and NQPI’s special event and outreach coordinator.

Creating an open, scientific discussion between experts and students from around the world was top priority during the conference planning, Braslavsky said, adding that the planning was a group effort.

“It was really important to create a space for all the people at the conference to communicate with each other,” she said. “The conferference brought the world here to Athens and to Ohio University.”

Nightly dinners and group outings encouraged students and scientists to spend time together, Braslavsky said.

Graduate students also discussed their latest research with experts through  oral presentations and poster projects.

“If the conference weren’t in Athens, I would’ve had to travel far to present my research to an international audience,” said OU physics and astronomy graduate student Swati Ramanathan, who participated in the graduate student poster session at the conference.

For more OU graduate student reactions to the conference, go here.

Above: Nano researchers discuss a graduate student poster presentation.

Below: Conference attendees eat lunch together during a social outing.