EINE INITIATIVE DER UNIVERSITÄT BASEL UND DES KANTONS AARGAU 10 years SNI update July 2016 SNI EINE INITIATIVE DER UNIVERSITÄT BASEL the final preparations for the Swiss cially designed for UND DES KANTONS AARGAU NanoConvention 2016. And it was well the SNI PhD School. Par- worth it! The team organized an out- ticipants completed various practical standing conference that once again tasks and learned how to give better showed all participants how exciting and clearer presentations. nano research can be. I myself learned quite a bit, enjoyed many inspiring In the last month, we were also de- discussions, and developed new ideas. lighted to hear that the SNI’s Chris- toph Gerber will receive the Kavli Before the SNC, a few other events Prize for Nanoscience together with took place that we will briefly touch Gerd Binnig und Carl Quate. 30 years on in this “SNI update”. On the ini- ago, when these three men developed tiative of Dr. Peter Reimann, the the atomic force microscope (AFM), Department of Physics and the SNI they could not have foreseen the many travelled to Gelterkinden on May 21 fields in which AFM is used today and to introduce the quantum and nano the new insights into the nano world worlds to a wider public. An interac- it constantly delivers. SNI members tive exhibition provided visitors with find many uses for AFM as well – for Dear Colleagues, insights into everyday laboratory life example Ernst Meyer’s group, which and research being conducted at the recently succeeded in measuring van It’s vacation time in Basel. From one University of Basel was explained in der Waals forces for the first time day to the next, the trams empty talks and with display stands. with the aid of AFM, or Roderick Lim’s and some of the university labs and team, who used a high-resolution AFM offices are closed. At the end of June, A rhetoric and communication work- to film nuclear pore complexes at however, the SNI was yet to enter the shop taught our doctoral students a work. Over the past few months, these holiday spirit as its management team few new things. For the second time and other results have been published – particularly Olivia Diener, Michèle now, Ralf Stutzki of the NCCR MSE in prestigious journals such as Nature Wegmann, and Claudia Wirth – made ran this workshop, which was spe- and shared with the public via media 2 releases. I hope you enjoy our latest «SNI update». Most importantly, I wish you a wonderful relaxing vacation. I look forward to seeing many of you again at the Annual Event in September. Kind regards, Director Swiss Nanoscience Institute, University of Basel EINE INITIATIVE DER UNIVERSITÄT BASEL Argovia Call 2016 UND DES KANTONS AARGAU Nano-Argovia Applications have once again opened for applied research projects in the Technologie-Förderung für die Nordwestschweiz Nano Argovia program. If you are interested, please visit our website: Das Forschungsprogramm Nano-Argovia fördert angewandte Gemeinschaftsprojekte zwischen öffentlichen Forschungseinrichtungen (Universität Basel, FHNW, PSI, CSEM Muttenz, D-BSSE ETH Basel) http://www.nanoscience.ch/nccr/argoviaProgram und Industriepartnern in der Nordwestschweiz. Infos unter http://argovia.nanoscience.ch The deadline for project proposals is September 30, 2016. Call for Proposals 2016 Deadline: 30. September 2016 Swiss NanoConvention 2016 Basel hosts Swiss NanoConvention for the second time From June 30 to July 1, almost 650 nanoscientists from around the world came together in the Congress Center Basel for the sixth Swiss NanoConvention (SNC). Participants from both research and industry had the opportunity to see a diverse mix of excellent presentations on the latest research, an exhibition of over 160 posters and 30 exhibitors whose products prove that nano has arrived on the market. This was the second time that the SNC had been hosted in Basel (after 2013). Once again, the program committee in- vited renowned nanoscientists from elite international universities to share insights into their pioneering research. The event was well received by the vast majority of visitors, who were very positive about the quality and variety of the SNC. The eight outstanding plenary sessions alone reflected the enormous diversity of topics and clearly indicated the influence that nano research can have on key issues affecting our society today. 3 Learning to understand cell aim to develop and market a device that quickly analyzes a patient’s DNA division with minimal sample quantities to predict the efficacy of medicines. In the Güntherodt Lecture, for example, Professor Daniel Müller Self-organization of complex systems (D-BSSE ETHZ in Basel, Switzerland) The talk given by Professor Vinothan Manoharan (Harvard University, Cam- explained how he and his team are bridge, USA) revolved around viruses which partially are involved in the investigating the division of animal development of diseases. The cells. Before the complex division simplest viruses are made up of “The SNC in 2016 in Basel was a fantastic event process begins, the cells very clear- RNA and a protein shell. If you bringing together nanotechnologists from all ly change in form. If this necessary mix the components in a test over the world and from all kind of interdisci- morphological change does not tube, complete viruses quickly plinary fields. The atmosphere of the conference take place, cancers may develop. form as if by magic. Vinothan was warm, friendly, collegial and inspired to es- The scientists are now using atomic Manoharan uses various optical tablish new research and collaborations. I wish force microscopy combined with techniques to explore the dy- conferences of this kind and quality could be cell-biological and genetic tools to namics of this self-organization established on a routinely basis to highlight and analyze the rounding process in in viruses. Understanding these support the outstanding nanotech hub Switzer- detail and deciphering the proteins processes will deliver decisive land.” and genes involved. In the future, insights to inspire developments this information might be able to in both medicine and nanotech- Daniel Müller help suppress the division of can- nology and enhance our under- Professor at D-BSSE ETH Zurich in Basel cerous cells. standing of the basic physical principles of complex systems. Efficient analysis The nanotechnology method pre- Artificial photosynthesis sented by Dr. Steven Henck (Genia Another topic concerning our society – and the subject of a plenary lecture Technologies, Santa Clara, Califor- – is energy supply and fixation of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Pro- nia, USA) to quickly and reliably de- fessor Peidong Yang (University of California, Berkeley, USA) is currently in- cipher genetic make-up might also vestigating possible methods of artificial photosynthesis. With green plants influence the treatment of diseases. as his model, his goal is to produce energy-rich carbohydrates and oxygen His team uses a biological nanoma- from carbon dioxide and water. Since his aim is to optimize light yield, Yang chine that synthesizes a DNA strand does not use plants, instead combining semiconducting nanowires with ac- complementary to the DNA to be an- etogenic bacteria. In this system, the nanowires act as tiny solar cells. Far alyzed. The individual components more effective than natural photosynthesis, the nanowires “catch” the light are marked differently. These mark- and act as charge carriers. The bacteria, which cannot conduct photosynthe- ings are detected during passage sis in nature, use these charge carriers to reduce carbon dioxide to carbon through a nanopore, indicating the compounds and therefore to store chemical energy. Yang’s work could help sequence of the components and to bind more carbon dioxide and use this to produce fuel. therefore the genetic code of the material in question. The scientists Fixation of greenhouse gases Professor Omar Yaghi from Berkeley (California) also presented possible ways to bind carbon dioxide. His work focuses on metal-organic frame- “The meeting was one of the best I`ve attended works (MOF), porous crystalline materials made from metallic compo- this year. It was well organized, the talks were nents and organic molecules that form one-, two-, or three-dimensional very interesting and varied among many fields of networks. The pores of MOFs can be functionalized in different ways, nano, and the discussions with scientists in the allowing carbon or water to be temporarily “caught”, for example. One break time were excellent.“ application in which MOFs are used to bind (and therefore compress) methane as an energy supply is already being commercialized. Omar M. Yaghi Professor at the University of California, Berkeley and Co-Director of the Kavli Energy NanoSciences Institute 4 Liquid prevents adhesion optics, and functional surfaces – saw The research methods employed by Professor Joanna Aizenberg (Harvard 32 invited speakers present their lat- University, Cambridge, USA) are also closely aligned with practical applica- est research findings. The Commis- tions. She develops surfaces to which microorganisms, ice, and liquids can- sion for Technology and Innovation not adhere, even under extreme (CTI) also invited attendees to a sat- conditions. Using the pitcher ellite symposium on applied topics. “I have received feedback from various sides plant as inspiration, she has devel- The breaks were generally spent dis- regarding the impeccable organisation of the oped surfaces covered by a liquid cussing the 160 posters and talking convention. This is particularly true for interna- film that prevents the adhesion to the 30 exhibitors. With very good tional attendees, many of whom told me how of particles. In shipbuilding, for service from the Congress Center, they have rarely experienced a conference as example, this technology (known the SNC was a relaxed and casual well and smoothly organised as this one. For as SLIPS) could be used to stop affair that encouraged attendees them, this really left an excellent and lasting the growth of algae and barna- to share their ideas and establish impression of the SNI, the Physics Department cles, saving enormous amounts contacts.