1) I'm not a scientist. What can I do to help bring about the nano-revolution?
There is no absolute answer to this question at the current time. The most work is presently research so the current best way to help is to become a scientist, student or investor.
2) Where can I invest money in nanotechnology?
For small groundwork contributions checkout Foresight Org or Institute for Molecular Manufacturing.
Some consultant and investor services have started appearing to direct potential investors towards hopeful developments and research groups in need of funding. These include Ardesta Microsystems, Investment broker for "small tech" as they bill themselves for microtech and smaller areas, nAbacus Nanotechnological Consultants, An Asian-Pacific based consultancy on nanotechnology).
While Zyvex was set up to pursue Drexlerian nanotechnology, it is a private company and one must be a qualified investor (as defined by the US SEC) with significant assets before one can invest in it.
Some public companies (such as Nanophase Technologies Corporation [Nasdaq: NANX] and Nanometrics Incorporated [Nasdaq: NANO]) have "nano" in their name, but their products would generally not be considered directly related to Drexlerian nanotechnology.
The journals posted in the Publications section often carry news of funding, the SFCG newsletter there is specific to business prospects, and investment threads pop up occasionally in most forums.
Which route you take is up to you, as with any investment its a risky business and those in the know around here are keeping the cash-cows to themselves.
3) What college level coursework or major would best prepare me for working in nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology overlaps with a wide range of the existing sciences so which ever field of Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science or Biology (Biomedical) you specialize in you will be able to find some degree of involvement. Degrees spread over several of these however have a greater bearing on Nanotechnology. Degrees that seem at present to have the most direct and constructive involvement with Nanotechnology are:
- 1) Optical and Quantum Physics
- 2) Molecular Biology
- 3) Biomedical Engineering - Through genetics and MicroBio
- 4) Electrical Engineering - Through MEMS systems
- 5) Software Engineering - Through AI, Communication and Information Systems
Degrees in Nanotechnology are starting to appear and those known are listed in below. And a Briefing on Nanotechnology and Education can be found at Foresight for some very useful advice.
Whatever program you choose make sure you get good math preparation (through calculus and differential equations), computer modeling (physics systems, molecular biology, etc.). Try to get some machine shop experience. As an experimental scientist (even though I do a lot of mathematical modeling) I have to design and build my own instrumentation. Last I suggest courses in electronic instrumentation. You need the ability to design electronic instruments and know how to interface electronic circuits to computers. If you look on the web you will only see a handful of nanotech companies. The majority of the research is done at universities. To play the game you will have to do graduate work (MSc., Ph.D preferred) You are talking about 12 years of school : BSc (4 yrs), MS (3 yrs) and Ph.D. (4 yrs). {FRU}
4) What universities currently offer degrees in Nanotechnology?
A more current to-the-minute list can be found at www.workingin-nanotechnology.com. The original institutions with the older nanotechnology courses known to the group are listed here:
BSc in Nanotechnology Flinders University Adelaide, Australia MSc in Microsystems and Nanotechnology Cranfield University Cranfield, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom MSc in NanoScience Delft University of Technology and Leiden University Netherlands Post Graduate Studies in Nanotechnology University of Washington Washington, USA
5) Where can I go to find work in nanotechnology?
Opportunities are somewhat limited but opening up.www.workingin-nanotechnology.com has a large range of positions in all areas of nanotechnology from research to engineers to sale.
Other places to check are Zyvex or follow some of the links in Foresight's Jobs Section.