Hundreds of industry leaders are expected to attend the two-day Nano 2005 Conference in Silicon Valley June 7-8 to hear noted experts discuss the latest innovations in nanotechnology.

Co-sponsored by NASA Ames Research Center, NASA Tech Briefs, Nanotech Briefs, mPhase Technologies Inc. (Norwalk, Conn.) and NanoDynamics Inc. (Buffalo, N.Y), the conference will be held at the Westin Santa Clara Hotel, 5101 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, Calif.

"We are excited to co-sponsor the Nano 2005 Conference for the first time in Silicon Valley and we are looking forward to a series of stimulating discussions highlighting the latest developments in nanotechnology from some of the top experts in this dynamic scientific discipline," said NASA Ames Research Center Director G. Scott Hubbard, who will deliver opening remarks to the conference on Tuesday, June 7. NASA Ames conducts research and development in nanotechnology, the creation of materials, devices and systems through the control of matter on the nanometer scale. A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter, roughly 10,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair.

Following breakfast at 8 a.m. PDT, the conference will begin on Tuesday, June 7 at 9 a.m. PDT and continue until 5 p.m. A reception will be held at 5:30 p.m. that evening at the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, Calif. On Wednesday, June 8, the conference opens at 9 a.m. and continues until 3 p.m. PDT. Featured during the two-day conference will be a series of speakers, panel discussions and exhibits showcasing nanotechnology.

Scott Budman, business and technology reporter with KNTV-TV (NBC) in San Jose, Calif., will be the master of ceremonies on June 7. Tuesday morning's speakers include Matthew Nordan, vice president of research at Lux Research Inc., New York, NY, who will discuss "Nanotech Myth and Reality: Separating Commercial Opportunity from Hype."

"Nanotech is at the top of the global innovation agenda, and NASA is a key player in nanotech," Nordan said.

Nordan will be followed by Banny Banerjee and Craig Lawrence of IDEO Co., Palo Alto, Calif., who will discuss "Innovation and the Creative Process." They will be followed by a panel discussion about semiconductor, electronics and computing moderated by Wasiq Bokhari, managing partner of Quantum Insight Inc., Menlo Park, Calif.

That afternoon, Darlene Solomon, vice president and director of Agilent Laboratories, Palo Alto, Calif., will moderate a panel discussion about biotechnology entitled "Is Biotech the Low Hanging Fruit of Nanotechnology?" A panel discussion about the space industry, featuring Hubbard and Meyya Meyyappan of NASA Ames, will conclude the afternoon's discussion.

On Wednesday, Paul Saffo, director of the Institute of the Future foundation, Palo Alto, Calif., will discuss "Risk and Failure - the keys to success" as it relates to nanotechnology. He will be followed by a panel discussion about "Investing in Nanotech" moderated by Alan Marty, executive-in-residence at the JP Morgan Partners, New York, N.Y. The morning session will conclude with a question-and-answer session about what it takes to become a successful start-up company. Also featured on Wednesday will be a discussion of "Nanotech impact on the world community and its humanitarian benefits."

For information on the Internet about the Nano 2005 Conference, including registration, agenda and hotel information, please visit:

http://www.techbriefs.com/nano

For information about NASA and agency programs on the Internet, please visit:

http://www.nasa.gov