He said the nanoscale working group he chairs has recommended large funding increases in fiscal year 2001 for nanoscience and nanotechnology research. President Clinton also has emphasized the importance of nanoscale science, he added. This is of strategic importance for the U.S. in the next 20 years. This is just the beginning of the road. Roco noted that the National Science Foundation views positively developments around the world in the nanosciences and encouraged countries to collaborate on nanoscale research.
Collaborative efforts are very positive.
Speaking to reporters after the colloquium, Roco alluded to the push worldwide to engage in nanoscience research and engineering. In the short term, he said, nanoscale research should focus more on discovery. Nanoscale science and technology isn't yet ready for commercialization, he said. Los Alamos scientists and researchers are engaged in a number of nanoscience activities, ranging from nanoscale materials and chemistry to theory and modeling, bioscience, nanoscale sensors and devices, synthesis and fabrication. The Laboratory also is encouraging cross-disciplinary research in nanoscience and technology.