Dignitaries, industry leaders to dedicate new home of CNSI

By Jennifer Marcus

Industry leaders, along with state and local officials, will join Chancellor Gene Block Friday, Dec. 14, in dedicating UCLA's newly opened California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) building.

The ceremony will be preceded by a conference, "CNSI — the Driving Force for California Nanotechnology." The conference, which is open to the public, will feature industry leaders from the technology and biotechnology sectors who will discuss how their companies collaborate with CNSI faculty to bring nanoscale technologies into the marketplace for the benefit of the people of California.

Former California Gov. Gray Davis; David Crane, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's special adviser for jobs and economic growth; Chancellor Gene Block; and CNSI Interim Director Leonard H. Rome will speak at the dedication ceremony, slated to begin between 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on the rooftop of Parking Structure 9.

Additional speakers will include Hewlett-Packard's Stan Williams, director of quantum science research, and award-winning architect Rafael Vinoly, founder of Rafael Vinoly Architects and designer of the new building. Williams also chairs the CNSI Advisory and Oversight Board.

CNSI is one of four California Institutes of Science and Innovation established in 2000 for the purpose of cultivating stronger partnerships between academia and industry to help move early-stage research developments into the commercial research-and-development pipeline to speed public benefits to the marketplace.

With locations at UCLA and UC Santa Barbara, CNSI is recognized throughout the world as a leading center for research in nanosystems and nanotechnology. The institute fosters interdisciplinary collaboration in nanoscience and nanotechnology; trains the next generation of scientists, educators and technology leaders; and facilitates partnerships with private industry.

The new building provides critical lab space, state-of-the-art equipment, technical staff and scientific researchers required for high-level research and development. Within CNSI, 75 UCLA faculty members and researchers work with more than 300 graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, as well as with industry scientists and researchers from other universities.

Among the technologies being developed at CNSI are:

• Nanoscale biosensors to aid in early cancer detection

• Nanocomposite reverse-osmosis membranes to address critical water-sustainability needs • Safety assessments of nanomaterials to address potential toxicity to humans and the environment

• Hydrogen and natural gas storage as alternative fuels for cars

• Carbon dioxide capture to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and combustion-engine vehicles

• Molecular computers that are much smaller and potentially more powerful than today's silicon-based computers.