Molecular materials research is not just one science but
an intersection of a number of scientific disciplines. It is
this cross-disciplinary R&D or 'blurring' of the
scientific borders that is fuelling some of today's greatest
innovations - from artificial cell membranes that speed up
drug discovery to ultra-high-density memory devices and super
strong but lightweight composite materials. Some 120 top
international scientists including Nobel Laureates, Prof Ada
Yonath and Prof Kurt Wuthrich are in Singapore to talk about
cross-disciplinary science at the 2nd Molecular Materials
Meeting (M3) @ Singapore 2012 organised by A*STAR's Institute
of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE).
"Molecular materials research is the marriage of traditional
materials engineering and modern molecular science, and is a
way to inject new designs and innovations in materials for
novel technological applications," said Prof Andy Hor, IMRE's
Executive Director quoting the example of IMRE's artificial
cell membrane technology which integrates materials and
biology know-how to synthesize polymer-based cell membranes.
Live natural cell membranes used in drug discovery R&D
requires time to be cultured or grown, are hard to maintain
in a laboratory, and require specialists to handle the
specimens. On the other hand, the synthetic polymer cell
membranes help speed up the drug discovery process as they
are simpler to make, easier to handle and mimic the functions
of natural cell membranes.
"Cross-disciplinary is the key for the exponential growth of
new scientific innovations. An example for
merging-disciplines research leading to advanced materials,
including improved medications, is X-ray crystallography.
This method generates information vital for the design of new
compounds with desired properties by shaping our notion on
chemical and life processes at the molecular level by
exploiting physical methods and advanced mathematics,"
explained Prof Ada Yonath who won the Nobel Prize for
Chemistry in 2009.
Molecular materials science cuts across fields like
chemistry, materials science, physics, biology, medicine and
engineering. For example, by combining chemistry and physics
know-how, molecular materials research is used to examine the
structure, alignment of molecules and crystallinity of common
materials, and alters them to produce new materials with
unique properties.
The speakers will cover research topics centered on Materials
Synthesis, Assembly & Device Fabrication, Energy &
Sustainable Materials, Optical & Electronic Materials,
and Materials for Imaging & Sensing. Companies such as
Mitsui Chemicals, 3M and Aixtron and those involved in the
molecular materials value chain are also participating in the
conference as speakers and exhibitors. Participants will have
the opportunity to interact/meet with these experts to gain
insights into this new and exciting area of research.
The 2nd M3 @ Singapore 2012 will be held from 9 - 11 January
2012 at Level 4, Matrix Building at Biopolis, Singapore.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For media enquiries, please contact:
Mr Eugene Low
Manager, Corporate Communications
for Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE)
3, Research Link
Singapore 117602
DID +65 6874 8491
Mobile +65 9230 9235
Email loweom@scei.a-star.edu.sg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
About the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering
(IMRE)
The Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) is
a research institute of the Agency for Science, Technology
and Research (A*STAR). The Institute has capabilities in
materials analysis & characterisation, design &
growth, patterning & fabrication, and synthesis &
integration. We house a range of state-of-the-art equipment
for materials research including development, processing and
characterisation. IMRE conducts a wide range of research,
which includes novel materials for organic solar cells,
photovoltaics, printed electronics, catalysis, bio-mimetics,
microfluidics, quantum dots, heterostructures, sustainable
materials, atom technology, etc. We collaborate actively with
other research institutes, universities, public bodies, and a
wide spectrum of industrial companies, both globally and
locally.
About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research
(A*STAR)
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is
the lead agency for fostering world-class scientific research
and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based and
innovation-driven Singapore. A*STAR oversees 14 biomedical
sciences and physical sciences and engineering research
institutes, and six consortia & centres, located in
Biopolis and Fusionopolis as well as their immediate
vicinity. A*STAR supports Singapore's key economic clusters
by providing intellectual, human and industrial capital to
its partners in industry. It also supports extramural
research in the universities, hospitals, research centres,
and with other local and international partners.
About the 2nd Molecular Materials Meeting (M3) @ Singapore
2012
Organised by Singapore A*STAR's Institute of Materials
Research and Engineering (IMRE), in partnership with other
A*STAR institutes, research organisations and industries, the
event, themed around molecular materials, welcomes leading
researchers in chemistry, materials science, physics,
biology, medicine, engineering etc. with the intention of
developing cross-disciplinary and collaborative research
ideas on the following themes: Materials Synthesis, Assembly
& Device Fabrication; Energy & Sustainable Materials;
Optical & Electronic Materials; Materials for Imaging
& Sensing. For more information and the conference
programme, please visit IMRE's website.
|
