MEDIA CONTACT: Charles R. Loebbaka at (847) 491-4887 or
c-loebbaka@northwestern.edu

September 19, 2001

Northwestern Receives $11.2 Million for Nanotechnology Research Center

EVANSTON, Ill. – The Institute for Nanotechnology at Northwestern University, a leader in nanotechnology research, has been awarded an $11.2 million, five-year grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish a Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center (NSEC) involving six institutions.

The award was extremely competitive, and the Northwestern University-led NSEC (NU-NSEC) was among just six proposals that received funding. (The NSF received 69 pre-proposals from around the country.)

"This award is a result of a team effort – a success that would not have been possible without strong institutional and state support," said Chad A. Mirkin, director of the Institute for Nanotechnology and the newly created NU-NSEC. "Northwestern and its partners look forward to creating an international center of excellence in nanoscale science, technology and education."

The NU-NSEC will be housed in the University’s new $34 million Center for Nanofabrication and Molecular Self-Assembly, the first federally and privately funded nanotechnology facility in the country. (The facility is under construction and completion is expected in summer 2002.)

Building upon recent scientific achievements, center researchers will be working at the nanoscale (a nanometer is one billionth of a meter) to develop chemical and biological sensors that will be far more sensitive, selective and cost-effective than conventional systems.

This research holds the promise of the development of new sensor technologies with applications such as the ability to detect thousands of diseases with an instrument the size of a hypodermic needle’s tip, the ability to detect minute quantities of biological and chemical hazards in homes and offices and provide safety measures, and an inexpensive and portable means of detecting contaminated food and drinking water.

"What really stands out in the Northwestern University NSEC, in addition to the fundamental research, is the promise of developing new chemical and biological sensors and the large-scale integration of the groundbreaking nanolithography techniques previously developed at Northwestern," said NSF Program Director Ulrich Strom.

An interdisciplinary effort, the NU-NSEC brings together scientists, engineers and educators from Northwestern, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, the Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago) and Harold Washington College and the Chicago City Colleges.

Within Northwestern, the center will draw researchers and educators from four schools: Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences; McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science; the Medical School; and Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

Some 24 companies and business groups are partnering with the center to help transition its technology into the private sector.

The State of Illinois provided important matching funds in support of Northwestern’s proposal to NSF. Illinois Gov. George H. Ryan made a commitment of $5 million for state-of-the-art scientific equipment, the first $2 million of which has been appropriated in FY02.

"This award is yet one more acknowledgement of the rich talent and resources in the State of Illinois. Through our VentureTECH investments, Northwestern and its partners are able to leverage significant private, state and federal resources to maintain our leadership role in nanotechnology and other emerging fields," said Gov. Ryan.

In addition to pioneering nanoscale science and technology, the center is committed to educating the public, nurturing the scientists, technicians and teachers of tomorrow, and launching new technologies. A substantial part of the center’s effort will focus on developing innovative outreach programs. For example, NU-NSEC scientists will be partnering with the Museum of Science and Industry to develop a design plan for an exhibit that will illustrate cutting-edge NU-NSEC research and reflect the museum’s commitment to interactive, thought-provoking experiences. Once completed, this exhibit has the potential of reaching more than 1 million museum visitors annually.

Beginning next year, undergraduate students from around the country will have opportunities to engage in nanotechnology-related summer research. A partnership including Northwestern, Harold Washington College and the Chicago City Colleges will result in new summer research programs for minority undergraduates and a program for high school science teachers that combines hands-on research with curriculum development. Center researchers and staff will develop a Web-based "Functional Nanostructures" learning module for middle and high school classrooms, and national and international seminars will be offered annually.

Finally, to launch new technologies developed at the center, the NU-NSEC will work with the Kellogg School of Management to establish the Small Business Evaluation and Entrepreneurs (SBEE) program. Through SBEE, scientists and engineers with new technologies will work with teams of Kellogg students to research and evaluate concepts and develop comprehensive business plans for presentation to potential investors.

The creation of the Northwestern University Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center is the result of the National Nanotechnology Initiative, which was launched last year by President Clinton to speed nanotechnology research and development in the United States.