1/01 mechanical engineering: editorial

editorial

Changing the Way We Live

By
John G. Falcioni, Editor-in-Chief

The National Nanotechnology Initiative enacted by the U.S. Congress in November 2000 will expand this country's federal nanotechnology investment portfolio to $422 million in fiscal year 2001. That's up from $116 million in fiscal 1997 and $255 million in fiscal 1999. Consider, too, that private financing for this technology rivals that of the Feds.

So what are we to assume about this not-yet-trendy technology that is receiving so much interest from a relatively small but influential list of top engineers and scientists, and some of the world's largest companies? The answer is simple—yet the impact promises to be immense: Nanotechnology will change the way we live.

Basically, the work of nanotechnology occurs with the building blocks of matter at the atomic and molecular levels. Mihail C. Roco's article, which begins on page 52, examines this technology. Throughout the year, we will publish articles in this magazine that explore the research and development, manufacturing, and commercialization of nanostructures.

To say that we are now at the dawn of a new Industrial Revolution may seem like hyperbole. But the hope that surrounds nanotechnology is driven by engineers who dream of the systems they may develop and by executives and venture capitalists who dream of how much those accomplishments may mean to their corporate bank accounts.

So far, much of the federal and commercial R&D focuses on polymer composites, electronics, coatings, and even on cosmetics, drug discovery, diagnostics, and health care.

We are talking about smaller, faster, and more efficient computers. About a lamp that uses one-tenth as much energy as modern light bulbs and yet never burns out. Lighter and stronger building materials that may make cars, buses, and other forms of transportation more energy efficient. And medicines targeting the molecular errors that cause disease rather than treating the symptoms of illness.

Whatever publicity the general press has given to nanotechnology has focused on the research of scientists and physicists. But a meeting last month of top nanotechnology experts in Washington, sponsored by ASME International, reminds us that the work of nanotechnology development is interdisciplinary. No single vocation or profession can claim ownership. While it is true, for example, that intended nanosystems are to mimic the building processes found in nature, it is the engineer who will manufacture the systems. ASME's recent workshop drew an audience of mostly engineers, but the speakers included scientists as well. The conference is the subject of a front-page article in the January issue of ASME News.

Mihail Roco says that nanotechnology "requires the integration of investigation methods from various disciplines in order to understand mac- roscopic phenomena, define transport coefficients, optimize processes, and design products."

While commercial ventures surrounding nanotechnologies are, for the most part, proprietary, details about U.S. federal research projects may be obtained online at http://nano.gov.

It is mostly pundits who dare make claims of a far-fetched reality where life will resemble a scene from our dreams. But politicians and businessmen will tell us that spending money is not for those who put bravado ahead of pragmatism. Interestingly, when it comes to nanotechnology, pundits, politicians, and businessmen agree: Nanotechnology will change the way we live.

Email your comments or questions to: falcionij@asme.org