Outlook

by John A. Koropchak
Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Dean

In 1996 Perspectives had a special theme issue on materials science research at SIUC. A decade later, materials science continues to be one of our strengths, with a growing emphasis on nanotechnology. Nanomaterials have special properties and special uses because they are designed on such a small scale. This research area has generated many patent applications at the University recently. Hence we have devoted half of this issue to covering a number of relatively new nanotech projects.

Several of the researchers featured here have received prestigious CAREER awards from the National Science Foundation—awards that fund not only research, but also undergraduate curriculum innovation. We are doubly pleased that the NSF recently chose SIUC as a Research Experiences for Undergraduates site in materials science.

In the REU program, select universities introduce promising undergraduates from across the country to laboratory research in specific areas. The program's goal is to encourage more students to enter graduate studies in science. Numerous SIUC faculty in chemistry, physics, and engineering mentored REU students over the summer; you will see some of these students pictured in our cover article.

Readers can look for more coverage of nanotech projects in the future. As this issue was going to press, for example, we learned that SIUC physicist Andrei Kolmakov is receiving national attention for his work on nanoscale electronic "noses"—tiny sensors made of semiconducting nanowires that can "sniff out" particular gases. Chips loaded with such nanowires could be useful in many areas—homeland security being perhaps one of the most pressing.

It's a changing world, and SIUC is part of the mix.