Smart Skills
Vast vistas in nanotechnology
Usha Albuquerque

Nanotechnology has opened new frontiers for aspiring scientists, with virtually no major sector remaining untouched by this science of the future.

Nanotechnology is the science of the miniature, as the ad says, the science that can create a mobile for an ant! Nano-materials are a thousand times smaller than the diameter of a human hair and can be applied to almost every field, from medicine to cosmetics.

'Nano' in Greek means 'dwarf' and when any material is reduced to a nano dimension (10-9metre=1namometre) there are drastic changes in its physical, chemical, magnetic, optical, mechanical and electrical properties. It is for this reason that this cutting edge technology can be used in aerospace, engineering, bioscience, medical science, environment, electronics, security and a variety of other fields.

Scope of nano science

The scope and application of nanotechnology is so immense that it is estimated that there will be no sector of industry that will not use nanotechnology in future. In countries like the US and Japan, nanotechnology is already being used in household products such as golf balls, mattresses, skin care cream and sprays.

Nanotechnology is expected to revolutionise every area, from medicine and space, to various industrial and technological fields. In the area of health, nanotechnology can create sensors in the form of biochips, to be inserted in the human body, targeting a drug to a single malignant cell. It can also make tiny medical devices and sensors with fantastic precision to reach areas where the surgeons hands cannot, and repair damaged and diseased tissues.

Nanotechnology can help scientists work on atoms at a finer level, helping us get more advanced products. Nanobots may be made from carbon nanotubes to carry out functions like human beings. Nanotechnology has the power to convert sunlight into power, providing unlimited energy sources. Moreover, as nanomaterials are light, strong and transparent, they can be used for a variety of products. Nano-coatings can be applied to different fabrics to make them scratch- resistant and dirt repellent. It also has the potential to produce garments which can block chemical and biological weapons from touching the skin of a person. Nanotechnology is also used by security agencies to help detect narcotics and fingerprints of suspects in crimes.

So, a career in nanotechnology can cover virtually any field of activity in the area of research, development and marketing of products and training. Nanotechnology is an interdisciplinary subject that essentially combines physics, chemistry and bio-technology. It is also a highly sophisticated subject that requires a minimum qualification of an M.Tech in the subject. The minimum qualification to get admission in the two-year M Tech programme is an engineering degree or a postgraduate degree in physics, chemistry or biotechnology.

Although it is a fairly new area of knowledge there are several institutions that have started courses in nanotechnology. These include the Jawaharlal Nehru Center for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, the National Physical Laboratory, Delhi and the IITs at Kanpur, Chennai, Guwahati, Delhi and Mumbai. Most of these institutes are also conducting research in this field.

Many scientific institutions in the country have already begun R&D in this field and there is now an awareness for trained nanotechnologists to work in a variety of industries — pharmaceutical, medical, agriculture, food and beverage and environment. As the sector develops, other areas of work will include product development and consulting for industries, research and development in government, universities and private research institutes, interfacing of new technologies, in communication and media related to the dissemination of information and in education and academics.

There will also be many new industries emerging as a result of advances in nanotechnology and opportunities for entrepreneurial ventures. There is also a great demand for skilled manpower in other countries where work in this field has advanced greatly. Many countries like USA, UK, Japan, China, Germany and France have invested huge funds in developing nanotechnology in anticipation of gains in the future. There are about 150 institutions working on research while about 500 companies are out in the market with nanotech products.

In India too, public interest has been fuelled by the strong support from the government in generating awareness in nanotechnology. The Department of Science & Technology (DST) launched a national program titled Nanoscience & Technology Initiative (NSTI) focusing at overall research and development in nano science and technology so that India can become a significant international player in the area and contribute to the development of new technologies. The government has also started a scheme, Science & Technology Initiatives in Nanotechnology, with a starting capital fund of Rs 100 crore for five years.

Nanotechnology has the potential to change the world around us in unimaginable ways. Soon, it will impact every aspect of our lives from the medicine we take, to the computers we use and the energy we require for the cars we drive. So, even if you want a nano-slice of this tempting pie, then this is the time to plunge in.

Some of the institutions offering courses/research in nanotechnology:

• Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore

• The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore

• The National Physical Laboratory, Delhi

• The Indian Institutes of Technology at Kanpur, Chennai, Guwahati, Delhi and Mumbai.

• Solid State Physics Laboratory, Delhi

• National Chemical Laboratory, Pune

• Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, Chandigarh

• Defence Materials Store Research & Development Organization, Kanpur

• Amity Institute of Nanotechnology, Noida.

The writer is a known career expert