(TECH) Israel, Canada Working Together On Nanotechnology

"Relations between Canada and Israel just keep getting tighter. Two years ago, experts from both countries met, through computer video links, to discuss potential business ventures, including developing instruments for desalinating sea water to make it potable. Last year, Israeli and Canadian philatelists met face to face to launch a friendship stamp to celebrate 60 years of great relations between their two nations.

Last month, nanotechnologists from both places got together at Carleton University in Ottawa to study matter so small that it would be lost on the head of a pin. On Oct. 4 and 5, scientists in this super-specialized field, and from several Israeli universities, came to 'a summit of research-sharing and academic co-operation,' a press release from the Embassy of Israel stated.



It noted that the two-day summit was to focus on the themes of 'nanomechanics, optoelectronics, photonics and biophotonics.'

Miriam Ziv, Israel’s ambassador to Canada, said, 'Israeli research and innovation is world renowned and the potential benefits of an exchange of knowledge between Canada and Israel will be extremely valuable. I am confident that this workshop will not only enrich the research but also strengthen the friendship between our two countries.'

According to Kim Matheson, Carleton’s vice-president (research and international), 'Carleton is known for its significant cutting-edge research in the field of nanotechnology,' and collaboration between scientists from both coubtriescould lead to great initiatives and cooperative ventures.

At the conference – which attracted about 40 scientists, government and university officials, curious spectators and press people – Matheson reiterated Carleton’s international leadership in the field. He noted that the university teaches nanotechnology at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.

'Researchers here have received both awards and grants to further their work,' he said.
The ambassador stressed at the opening of the conference that Canada and Israel have been forging close ties 'since 1949. Such collaboration is a valuable tool for both countries. I see this conference as part of a wider effort to deepen our ties.



'Both Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agree these kinds of joint efforts are good for both countries.'

As the scientists began their presentations, it became obvious just how complicated nanotechnology is. To highlight this fact, Ron Miller, an associate professor at Carleton of mechanical and aerospace engineering, explained that 'since the 1980s, with the invention of the modern electron microscope, scientists in the area of study have used a total of only I cubic millilitre of matter. The totality of material studied in nanotechnology, on the other hand, is a nanogram, less than the size of a grain of sand.'

Researchers from Israel included scientists from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Applications for nanotechnology range from early detection of diseases to the relationship between nature and nano-quantum mechanics.

At Carleton specifically, efforts in the field are focussing on solutions to many social, environmental and health problems. For instance, nano research into making better currency will one day help to avoid counterfeiting." (source)