josh@klaatu.rutgers.edu (J Storrs Hall) (09/06/89)
[Posted at the request of the Foresight Institute --JoSH] First Foresight Conference on Nanotechnology being held on a weekend in October 1989 Stanford University Palo Alto, California This first broad-based conference in the field will be an invitational meeting of scientists and technologists working in fields leading to nanotechnology. A number of policymakers and industry representatives will also be invited. The meeting will be limited to about 150 attendees. The conference will enable researchers to review diverse achievements on the frontiers of molecular and microscale systems and to explore their potential interconnections. We will also briefly examine and critique possible applications of this work, including the long-term promise of techniques for thorough and inexpensive control of the molecular structure of matter. Topics to be covered include: protein engineering quantum electronics molecular self-assembly micromachines atomic imaging and positioning medical applications molecular modeling environmental applications molecular electronics computational applications Sponsors The conference is sponsored by the Foresight Institute and Global Business Network, and hosted by the Stanford University Department of Computer Science. Speakers The following speakers have been confirmed: Robert Birge (Syracuse University) on molecular electronics, Federico Capasso (AT&T Bell Labs) on quantum electronics, Eric Drexler (Stanford University) on molecular assemblers, Greg Fahy (American Red Cross) on medical applications, John Foster (IBM Almaden) on atomic imaging and positioning, Tracy Handel (du Pont) on protein design, Bill Joy (Sun Microsystems) on computational applications, Arthur Kantrowitz (Dartmouth College) on international consequences, Joseph Mallon (Nova Sensor) on micromachines, Norman Margolus (MIT) on theoretical limits to computation, Lester Milbrath (State Univ. of NY at Buffalo) on environmental applications, Jay Ponder (Yale University) on molecular modeling, Gordon Tullock (Univ. of Arizona) on economic implications, and Michael D. Ward (du Pont) on molecular self-assembly. Schedule: Friday Evening reception 7-11 PM Saturday Technical presentations on enabling science and technologies Molecular modeling demonstrations, informal discussion Dinner at Stanford Faculty Club Sunday Technical presentations on enabling science and technologies Applications in medicine, the environment, computing Implications Information If you have not received an invitation but wish to attend, please forward information to enable the selection committee to evaluate your role at the conference. For further information, contact merkle@xerox.com or the Foresight Institute, P.O. Box 61058, Palo Alto, CA 94306 USA, (415) 948-5830 tel., (415) 948-5649 fax. Program Topics and speakers are listed; all speakers confirmed. (Titles to be announced) Friday evening 7-11 PM Informal reception at Garden Court Hotel, Palo Alto Welcoming remarks by Nils Nilsson, chairman of Stanford Computer Science Department Saturday morning 8:30 AM Registration 9:30 AM Overview and introduction: Eric Drexler, Visiting Scholar Stanford Computer Science Department 10:00 AM Protein design: Tracy Handel E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. 11:00 AM Atomic imaging and positioning: John Foster Manager, Molecular Studies for Manufacturing IBM Almaden Research Center 12:00 PM Break for lunch Saturday afternoon 1:00 PM Design of self-assembling molecular systems: Michael D. Ward E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. 2:00 PM Molecular modeling and design: Jay Ponder Dept. of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry Yale University 3:00 PM Break 3:30 PM Molecular electronics: Robert Birge Director, Center for Molecular Electronics Syracuse University 4:30 PM Technical panel Discussion of technical paths, challenges 5:00 PM Molecular modeling demonstrations, Informal discussion Saturday evening 6:30 PM Reception at Faculty Club 7:00 PM Dinner at Faculty Club Sunday morning 9:00 AM Micromachines: Joseph Mallon, Co-President, Nova Sensor 9:40 AM Quantum electronics: Federico Capasso, AT&T Bell Labs Head of Quantum Phenomena and Device Research Dept. 10:20 AM Theoretical limits to computation: Norman Margolus, MIT 11:00 AM Strategies for molecular systems engineering: Eric Drexler, Visiting Scholar Stanford Computer Science Department 12:00 PM Break for lunch Sunday afternoon 1:00 PM Applications: Computation and AI: Bill Joy Vice President, Research and Development Sun Microsystems 1:20 PM Applications: Medicine Greg Fahy Scientist II American Red Cross 1:40 PM Applications: Environmental Lester Milbrath Director, Research Program in Environment and Society State Univ. of New York at Buffalo 2:00 PM Misapplications: Risk assessment Ralph Merkle, Xerox Palo Alto Research Center 2:20 PM Break 3:00 PM Economic consequences: Gordon Tullock Professor of Economics and Political Science Univ. of Arizona 3:30 PM Political consequences: the need for openness Arthur Kantrowitz Professor of Engineering Dartmouth College 4:00 PM Applications/Consequences panel 4:30 PM Molecular modeling demonstrations, Informal discussion 6:00 PM End -- Someday has arrived