Nanotechnology Institute (ASME)

The American Society for Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Nanotechnology Institute (NI) was established in 2001. ASME, founded in 1880, is a not-for-profit professional organization promoting the art, science, and practice of mechanical and multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences. The aim of the ASME NI is to advance the art, science, and practice of nanotechnology. The ASME NI is entrusted to carry out ASME activities in nanotechnology and to arrange interdisciplinary programs and activities to bridge science, engineering, and applications. While the ASME NI contributes to the development of nanotechnology, the adoption of nanotechnology in ASME's scope, in turn, provides the latter with the opportunity to modernize itself. ASME recognizes that [Page 552]nanotechnology, being highly interdisciplinary in nature, cuts across major divisions, including heat transfer, fluid engineering, applied mechanics, dynamics and controls, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and bioengineering, and hence the ASME NI draws representatives from each of these divisions. The activities of the ASME NI are organized through five committees. Each of the committees concentrates on specific activities:

• Education Committee: educational infrastructure and delivery in the area of nanoscale science, engineering, and technology.
• Nanomanufacturing Committee: manufacturing techniques related to nanotechnology such as synthesis and integration.
• Devices & Systems Committee: functional devices and systems that exploit nanoscale phenomena. Systems of interest: energy, information, and biomedical technologies.
• Nanoscale Phenomena Committee: fundamental understanding of nanoscale science that could have relevance in engineering: solid/fluid mechanics; heat transfer; thermodynamics.
• Government/Venture/Social Impact Committee: foster dialogue and interactions between the science/engineering communities and government, private investment and media.

Any individual, such as faculty, postdoctoral researcher, graduate student, personnel from industry, government, the media interested in any aspect of nanotechnology can become a member of the ASME NI committees. Members have the opportunity to shape ASME NI programs and to offer a collective voice to nano leaders in Washington, through ASME's Government Relations Operations. Since its inception, the ASME NI has been organizing numerous programs related to nanoscience and technology. These include major regular events such as the Integrated Nanosystems Meetings, two-day conferences that bring in participants from research, government, venture and media. Nano Training Bootcamps are also important ASME NI events. The Bootcamps are four-day training programs involving classroom and laboratory sessions.

They are designed to offer a detailed tutorial-based account of advances in fundamentals of nanoscience in different fields, and prospects for translating these advances into practical nanotechnologies. The ASME NI bootcamp topics include nanostructure properties, nanodevices, synthesis of nanostructures, nanostructural characterization, societal impacts, etc. Further ASME NI conferences/ meetings organized so far include topics related to applications of nanotechnology in energy, medicine, electronics, and commercialization of nanotechnology. The ASME NI also organizes nanotechnology events overseas with international partners. The ASME NI arranges and participates in meetings with congress members and lawmakers updating them on nanotechnology.

The ASME NI Website provides a one-stop resource for intended researchers and practitioners about ASME nanotechnology activities, as well as links to other sites.