Sustainable nanoscience for a sustainable future

Kostya Ostrikov

Plasma Nanoscience Center (PNCA), CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering.

Abstract:

Sustainability is commonly perceived as the capacity to endure some challenges, obstacles, stress, varied conditions, etc., and to continue normal or even improving operation. This concept has recently become global and is currently applied to economies, environment, ecosystems, industries, natural resource management, and several other fields of human activities. This presentation introduces the concept of sustainable nanoscience [1] and illustrates using a focused example of plasma-based growth of carbon nanotubes. This concept relates control of energy and matter at nanoscales (Grand Science Challenges) to practical applications that are relevant to a sustainable future of humankind (Grand Societal Challenges). Specific roles of plasma-related effects in nanoscale synthesis and processing that lead to superior properties and performance of nanomaterials in relevant applications are also examined [2]. The path toward the impact in the age of sustainable development is also discussed. Future opportunities of this research field to contribute to the solution of the problems of the sustainability age are also highlighted.

[1] K. Ostrikov, IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 41, 716-724 (2013) [2] K. Ostrikov, E. C. Neyts, M. Meyyappan, Advances in Physics 62(2), 113-224 (2013).

Bio:

Kostya (Ken) Ostrikov is a CEO Science Leader, Australian Future Fellow (the first and so far one of the only a couple of Professorial-Level (FT3) Future Fellows in Australia in Nanotechnology as the primary field of research), CSIRO’s Chief Research Scientist in Plasma- and Nano- Technologies, and a Founding Leader of the Plasma Nanoscience Center Australia (PNCA) at CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering as well as an Honorary/Visiting Professor of the , University of Technology Sydney, (Australia); Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Shanghai Jiaotong University (); Kharkiv National University (Ukraine); Nanyang Technological University (Singapore); and Josef Stefan Institute (Slovenia, EU). He pioneered and developed the Plasma Nanoscience as a distinctive research field [Rev. Mod. Phys. 77, 489 (2005), IF = 51.4 (2010), Australia’s only paper in 8 years before publication] and has lead it to recognition as a major advance in physics [Adv. Phys. 62, 113 (2013) (IF = 37.0, 2011); Australia’s only 13-th paper in 62 years]. He is the only person in the world who published a solo paper in one of these (two highest-IF journals in physics at the time of publication) journals and a first-author paper in another one in last decade.

As an established and recognized leader of a large international collaborative network, convenor of annual conferences, and lead editor of special issues in the field, he leads a large international plasma nanoscience community. He is the first recipient of the high-profile 2012 Building Future Award of Germany’s Ministry of Economics, Association of Electronic and Electrotechnical Industries, and the world’s largest Trade Fair Messe Frankfurt in recognition of outstanding achievements and innovations in scientific research that sets a landmark in sustainable development in our society. His achievements include the 3 most prestigious general-field (physics) medals of National Academies of Science of Australia and Ukraine and the Australian Institute of Physics (one of the only two researchers who have been awarded both of the two most prestigious medals in physics [AIP Walter Boas (2010) and AAS Pawsey (2008)] in Australia in last decade), 7 prestigious international fellowships and 8 full professor-level appointments in 6 countries, 3 research monographs, more than 380 refereed journal papers (H-index of 48 has been achieved in only 15.5 career years, which is exceptional as it is 3 times higher than the accepted sign of success [Nature 436, 900 (2005)]), more than 100 plenary, keynote, and invited talks at international conferences, research training of ~30 researchers with PhD and >60 research students, as well as more than $10M in competitive research funding and more than 150 co-authors/collaborators in last 5-6 years. Staff, postdocs, and students trained in CSIRO by Ostrikov are well-known and recognized nationally and internationally (e.g., prestigious fellowships, awards, publications, invitations, etc.). His research on nanoscale control of energy and matter for a sustainable future contributes to the solution of the grand challenge of directing energy and matter at the nanoscale, a challenge that is critical for renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies for a sustainable future.