October 2004

The National Academies

Nov. 18-21 nanotechnology conference in Irvine, Calif.

Research on nanotechnology is under way in a wide range of disciplines, from cell biology to computer engineering to optics. At this conference, 100 leading researchers will gather in focus groups to discuss and try to solve some major challenges facing nanotechnology today, including the building of a nano-system that can multiply and isolate RNA or DNA; the building of a synthetic self-replicator; and the development of a system to detect disease in vivo. Conference attendees will be eligible to compete for $1 million in research grants.

DETAILS: Nov. 18-21 at the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center, 100 Academy Drive, Irvine, Calif. CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE IS BY INVITATION ONLY. SESSIONS LISTED BELOW ARE OPEN TO MEDIA. SPACE IS LIMITED AND MEDIA MUST REGISTER IN ADVANCE.

ON THURSDAY, NOV. 18:

7 P.M. TO 9 P.M. PLENARY SESSIONS on Theory and Error Correction, presented by Peter Wolynes, University of California at San Diego, and an Overview of Cell Biology, presented by Thomas D. Pollard, Yale University.

ON FRIDAY, NOV. 19:

8:30 A.M. TO 9 A.M. � OPENING CEREMONY. Speakers include Wm. A. Wulf, president, National Academy of Engineering; Richard N. Foster, board member, W.M. Keck Foundation; and Cherry Murray, senior vice president of physical sciences research, Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies, and chair, Conference Steering Committee.

9 A.M. TO 10 A.M. � PUBLIC BRIEFING. The new National Academies report FACILITATING INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH examines the scope of current cross-disciplinary research and recommends ways to encourage communication among scientists. It will be released simultaneously in Washington, D.C., and Irvine, Calif. Reporters who cannot attend may listen to a live audio webcast of the briefing and submit questions using an e-mail form at http://national-academies.org.

7 P.M. TO 9 P.M. � AWARDS PRESENTATION. Winners of this year's National Academies Communication Awards are: Matt Ridley, author of "The Agile Gene: How Nature Turns on Nurture"; Robert Lee Hotz, reporter, Los Angeles Times; and David Clark, producer of The Science Channel's "Science of the Deep: Mid-Water Mysteries."

REPORTERS WHO WISH TO ATTEND MUST REGISTER IN ADVANCE by contacting the news office at 202-334-2138 or the National Academies Keck FUTURES INITIATIVE, tel. 949-387-2464. For more information and a program, visit http://www7.nationalacademies.org/keck/Keck_Futures_Conferences.html. FOCUS GROUP SESSIONS ARE CLOSED TO THE MEDIA.






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