Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	EP/D502373/1
Title:	UK Summer School in Surface Science 2005
Principal Investigator:	Moriarty, Professor PJ
Other Investigators:	McCoustra, Professor MRS Held, Professor G Roberts, Professor C Jones, Dr FH
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Sch of Physics & Astronomy
Organisation:	University of Nottingham
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 September 2005	Ends:	31 May 2006	Value (£):	57,386
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Surfaces & Interfaces
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
The study of just how atoms and molecules behave at surfaces is an exceptionally exciting and rapidly moving area of science and technology. Recent advances in the development of powerful microscopes mean that not only can we see individual atoms and molecules but it's possible to touch and apply tiny forces and electrical signals to these basic building blocks of matter. Under the right conditions single atoms or individual molecules may be pushed, pulled, and/or picked up (and put down!): this is one of the cornerstones of the nanotechnology revolution. On the other hand, instead of shoving the atoms around in this 'brute force' manner, we can simply sit back and let the forces of Nature assemble a structure from its basic atomic or molecular building blocks: this is the process of self-assembly. A bewildering array of complex and beautiful patterns form at surfaces, simply by letting Nature take its course (although we do, of course, guide the process in subtle and sometimes not-so-subtle (!) ways by tuning and playing with the chemical properties of the surfaces). While both single molecule manipulation and self-assembly are fascinating processes which help us understand just how Nature works (and it's this fascination which drives so many of us to become scientists), surface science is also of exceptional importance in developing new technologies. From a 40 GB iPOD to a 3`d generation mobile 'phone to a recordable DVD player: none of these technological advances (and countless others) would have been possible without a detailed understanding of the science of surfaces.Of course, if any area of science is to advance it needs a continual stream of bright and enthusiastic scientists who have received the highest quality training in the underlying concepts and in state-of-the-art techniques and technologies. That is the purpose of this proposal: to fund a 1 week Summer School which will attract up to 80 PhD students from all across the UK and who are involved in research spanning the study of magnetism at the molecular level to the manipulation of surfaces for biomedical applications. Not only will the students hear lectures delivered by world-renowned scientists on fascinating new developments in the study of atoms and molecules at surfaces, but they will be involved in a wide variety of 'hands-on' training sessions, debates, and workshops.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.nottingham.ac.uk