Nanotechnology’s best minds come to Rice

CONTACT: Mike Williams
PHONE: 713-348-6728
EMAIL: mikewilliams@rice.edu

Nanotechnology’s best minds come to Rice

The Buckyball Discovery Conference will bring the world’s leading experts in nanotechnology to Rice University next month for a comprehensive look at the past, present and future of the nano revolution. Topics to be addressed include energy, health, environment, nano safety, defense, homeland security, advanced materials and more.

The event is the highlight of the university’s Year of Nano, a celebration of the discovery 25 years ago at Rice of the carbon-60 molecule, aka the buckminsterfullerene (or buckyball), the hardest known substance in the universe. Rice professors Richard Smalley and Robert Curl and University of Sussex professor Harold Kroto (now at Florida State University) won the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their discovery.

Who: Nanotechnology experts from Rice’s Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology and from academia, industry and government. Speakers will include former Virginia Governor and Senator George Allen, who played a key role in the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act signed by President Bush in 2003, and Texas Rep. John Culberson.

What: The Buckyball Discovery Conference.

When: Oct. 11-14, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Where: Rice University, 6100 Main St., Houston.

Photo opportunities:

• Oct. 10, 5-9 p.m. – Rice scientists, students and Rep. John Culberson will discuss and demonstrate state-of-the-art nanotechnology for guests at the Buckyball Discovery Gala at the Hyatt Regency Downtown.
• Oct. 11, 9 a.m. – The Nobel Prize-winning team will gather at Rice on Monday morning to talk about their discovery and the future.
• Oct. 11, 6 p.m. — Houston Mayor Annise Parker will take part in the designation of Rice as a National Historic Chemical Landmark.

For information or to arrange for coverage of the event, contact Mike Williams at 713-348-6728 or mikewilliams@rice.edu.