Experts from NASA, academia and industry will meet this week to learn the latest developments in nanotechnology and provide input to guide the fledgling industry.

The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) Grand Challenge workshop, hosted by NASA Ames Research Center, located in California's Silicon Valley, will be held Aug. 24-26, 2004 at Rickey's Hyatt Hotel in Palo Alto, Calif. The workshop will focus on six themes: nanomaterials, microcraft, nanorobots, nano-micro-macro integration, nanosensors and instrumentation and astronaut health management. During the workshop, participants will attend a series of 'breakout' sessions with guest experts.

"Future advances in nanotechnology could have a significant impact on space exploration by increasing capability and decreasing weight, which reduces cost," said NASA Ames Center Director G. Scott Hubbard. "The future of nanotechnology has great potential and NASA is pleased to be on the cutting edge of its development," he added.

"The successful pursuit of space exploration will require the development of new technologies and different ways of thinking," said Meya Meyyappan, chairman of the workshop and director of the Center for Nanotechnology at NASA Ames. "The Grand Challenge brings experts together in a multi-agency effort to address these needs though the development of new applications of nanotechnology," he said.

Lessons learned from the workshop will be included in a Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology report and incorporated into the new National Nanotechnology Initiative strategic plan for the next five to ten years. Input from the workshop will be to the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology as part of the council's ongoing review of National Nanotechnology Initiative.

The workshop is organized by the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office, and member agencies of the Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology Subcommittee and the Committee on Technology, National Science and Technology Council.

For more information about the National Nanotechnology Initiative Grand Challenge workshop, visit:

http://nasagrandchallenge.arc.nasa.gov/

NOTE TO EDITORS AND NEWS DIRECTORS: News media representatives are invited to cover the National Nanotechnology Initiative Grand Challenge workshop at Rickey's Hyatt Hotel, 4219 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, Calif., Aug. 24-26, 2004. The workshop brings together U.S. government officials and nanotechnology experts from NASA, academia and industry to discuss the latest developments in this emerging field of research. The workshop begins at 8:00 a.m. PDT Aug. 24 in the Hyatt ballroom. For a detailed schedule, visit the workshop Web site: http://nasagrandchallenge.arc.nasa.gov. Please contact Jonas Dino at 650/604-5612 or Jonas.Dino@nasa.gov for clearance to cover the workshop.