By Stephanie Laird

Scientists from the international nanoscience community will be traveling to Athens this July to participate in the joint Nanoscale Spectroscopy & Nanotechnology 5 and Spin-Polarized Scanning Tunneling Microscopy 2 (NSS5/SP-STM2) international conference. This event combines two previously established conferences into one major event that will gather prominent members of the nanoscience community to engage in over three days of stimulating scientific presentations, discussions, networking opportunities, and outdoor and cultural activities.

“We are proud to host this premier international nanoscience conference in Athens this year,” said Arthur R. Smith, director of Ohio University's Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute. “We are looking forward to a week filled with interesting and inspiring presentations along with stimulating discussions.”

First class researches representing more than ten countries will be participating in the NSS5/SP-STM2 conference, either as guests or featured presenters. An estimated 90 participants are expected to attend, including 30 invited speakers giving presentations about their specific research, methodologies, and scientific advancements pertaining to their areas of expertise.

In addition to providing a forum for discussion on this highly interdisciplinary and globally-oriented field, commercial exhibitors will be attending the conference, featuring the latest technological equipment available to facilitate nanoscience research. Confirmed sponsors for this distinguished gathering of nanoscience professionals include; the Condensed Matter and Surface Sciences Program, the Department of Physics and Astronomy, the Biomimetic Nanoscience and NanoTechnology effort, as well as the Vice President for Research Office at Ohio University. The US Office of Naval Research is also providing external support for the event.

The major topics to be discussed in the NSS5/SP-STM2 conference include: nanoscale spectroscopy, atom/molecule manipulation, and spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy. The conference will be divided into two parallel sessions to accommodate the specialized areas, said Smith. Session A will primarily consist of the NSS5 topics, whereas session B will focus on SP-STM2 and atom manipulation. An opening reception and closing banquet will celebrate this convergence of nanoscience experts; and participants will have the opportunity to travel to Techumseh!, the outdoor historical drama that depicts an influential period of our region's cultural history.

The International Workshop on Nanoscale Spectroscopy and Nanotechnology began as a biannual meeting series to share information on the latest science and technology advances in the nanometer realm. Topics traditionally covered during this conference include: electrical, optical, magnetic, mechanical and transport properties of nanoscale systems and nanoscale devices, as well as nanomanipulation.

The Spin-Polarized Scanning Tunneling Microscopy international workshop started in 2006 with the first edition held in Hamburg, Germany. In keeping with the theme of SP-STM1, this year's event will focus on recent advances in instrument developments, experimental methods, theoretical concepts, and applications of spin-polarized imaging/spectroscopy.

Ohio University's continued dedication to the nanoscience effort has yielded significant scientific advancements through ongoing, cross-campus collaborations that address numerous aspects of this rapidly evolving field.

The NSS5/SP-STM2 joint international conference will be held at the new Baker Student Center on the conference floor. This immense facility offers participants a comfortable, technologically-advanced and spacious environment for hosting an event of this magnitude. The conference will begin on July 15 and continue through July 19.

For additional information on the NSS5/SP-STM2 conference, including a complete schedule, information for exhibitors and sponsors, and information on local accommodations please visit the conference website or contact Mala Braslavsky, conference coordinator, at 740-593-1757 or mala@phy.ohiou.edu.

www.phy.ohiou.edu/nss5-spstm2/about.htm