Wyn forwarded me an e-mail notice about an upcoming meeting, politely asking why we weren’t involved. The meeting is in fact organised by Nanocentral (one of the 23 MNT centres), the Chemistry KTN (one of the 24 Knowledge Transfer Networks), Chemicals Northwest and the Northwest Aerospace Alliance. This is where I play my “I’m actually a chemist too” card. The truth is that nanotechnology, as currently configured spans the traditional areas of engineering, materials science and chemistry – and then relies heavily for its ethos on physics! As such, I often find myself discussing routes to nano-materials which are completely chemical, applications which borrow from the macro and micro world, and underlying principles which ought to be physics, but where I can usually only manage physical chemistry.

Part of the fun to be had in this area of science and technology is the overlap of learning, insight and even prejudice that each of the more established disciplines demonstrates in its everyday existence and the challenge each area gets by interacting with the others. So, my response to this meeting is that it sounds interesting and relevant and, although it’s a shame the Materials community isn’t helping make it happen, that’s our problem not the meetings!! The other point to make is that (given the confusion often caused by Governments obsession with starting new things) here are 4 very different organisations who have recognised a shared interest and acted on it.

David