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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.
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