The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) hosted the first in its series of Hot Topics in Science and Technology seminars on August 10, 2005, in the Indian Treaty Room
of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. A panel of five distinguished scientists described for a general audience how nanotechnology could help revolutionize energy technologies for our Nation's future energy needs during the two-hour meeting (10:00 a.m. - noon). Richard M. Russell, Associate Director of OSTP for Technology, provided introductory remarks and welcomed the speakers. Five 20-minute presentations followed:
A short video clip from the meeting
Paul Alivisatos: Nanotechnology 101
Paul Alivisatos, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, began his Nanotechnology 101 lecture by drawing an analogy between the theory of the Greek philosopher, Democritos (c.455 - 370 BC), and the miniaturization of features on modern day computer chips. Democritos envisioned "atoms" because he believed that matter could not be divided ad infinitum. Likewise, computerization is approaching atomic scales, which requires knowledge of matter at the nanoscale in order to make future advancements.
Alivisatos lecture movie clip 
(16.0MB)(1:33) | Free QuickTime Player
Images from the meeting
-- Preparations --
-- Presentations --
-- Ambiance --
Enlarge Photo 
View from the window
White House mansion and West Wing
Attendance List (11KB)