Feynman Prizes in Nanotechnology go to James Tour and George Schatz
(Nanowerk News) Foresight Institute, a leading think tank and public interest organization focused on nanotechnology, awarded prizes to leaders in research in the field of nanotechnology. These prizes are conferred on individuals whose work is moving our society toward the ultimate goal of atomically-precise manufacturing.
The 2008 Foresight Institute Feynman Prizes, named in honor of pioneer physicist Richard Feynman, are given in two categories, one for experimental work and the other for theory in advances in nanotechnology.
"This year we honor major advances in both understanding and building of nanoscale structures," said Christine Peterson, President of Foresight Institute. "This work moves us forward on the path to systems of complex, atomically-precise molecular machinery."
Winning in the Experimental category for 2008 is James M. Tour of Rice University for the Synthesis of Nanocars. Prof. Tour has published more than 330 research articles in fields including molecular electronics, chemical self-assembly, carbon nanotube modification and composite formation, and synthesis of molecular motors and nanocars. The synthesis and testing of nanocars and other molecular machines is providing critical insight in investigations of bottom-up molecular manufacturing. His work on nanocars has involved molecular building blocks that include electro- or photoactive functionality, and he has investigated the synergistic effects of combining functional molecular building blocks.
This year's winner in the Theory category, George C. Schatz of Northwestern University, has made outstanding theoretical contributions to nanofabrication and sensing. Prof. Schatz has published three books and more than 500 journal articles in theoretical and computational chemistry. In particular, he is cited first for sophisticated modeling and optimization of the dip pen nanolithography method of nanofabrication, and second, for his explanation of plasmon effects in metallic nanodots. The impact of this theoretical work on nanofabrication and single molecule sensing and characterization is leading toward molecular machine systems.
About Foresight Institute
Foresight Institute is the leading public interest organization in nanotechnology. Foresight was founded in 1986 to promote and accelerate the development of beneficial nanotechnology through education, research prizes, and public policy advocacy. Scientists, industry, governments, and the public turn to Foresight for balanced information provided through its publications, public policy activities, roadmaps, prizes, and conferences.
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