"The year 2005 has begun like 2004 has ended – pretty busy. In the past two months we had to shape the future of our NCCR. At the end of February, we submitted the full proposal for the NCCR continuation to the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). We had to identify the most promising projects that will be continued in the next four years."
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The Bio-Nanomechanics Project
This article provides a brief overview of the ongoing life science projects within the Bio-Nanomechanics group of the University of Basel. A team of scientists of various research fields is working on the fundamentals of biological Nanoscience and on the development of the next generation of nano-biosensors. Driven by the interdisciplinary nature of the projects, the involved researchers managed to build during the last four years a group of closely collaborating experts in the various fields. Such daily collaboration within the group is a solid foundation for both an efficient approach to research and comprehensive exchange of know-how.
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Martin Hegner receives Science Award
At the end of 2004, the City Council of Basel has awarded PD Dr Martin Hegner of the University of Basel with the science award.

Wolfgang Belzig receives Walter-Schottky Prize
PD Dr Wolfgang Belzig received the Walter-Schottky Prize 2005, the most prestigious prize for solid-state physics awarded by the German Physical Society.

Christoph Gerber receives Economist No Boundaries Innovation Award
Professor Dr Christoph Gerber, now Director of Scientific Communication of the NCCR Nanoscale Science, together with Professor Dr Gerd Binnig and Dr Heinrich Rohrer, has been awarded the Economist “No Boundaries” Innovation Award 2004 in San Francisco.

András Kis receives the prize Latis Internationale 2004
In November 2004 Dr András Kis receives the Prize Latsis Internationale for his achievement in nanomechanics of mesoscopic objects like carbon nanotubes, disulfide nanowires and protein polymers.

CTI-Start-up Label for NCCR start-ups
Concentris and Nanonis, two start-up companies of the NCCR Nanoscale Science, were awarded the CTI Start-up Label in September 2004.

Ribbon Award
At the MRS Fall 2004 Symposium Dr Terunobu Akiyama, Kaspar Suter, Professor Urs Staufer, and Professor Nico de Rooij have won the Ribbon Award for their Poster.

Natascha Kappeler
This time we interviewed a young women who is still at school but would like to become a NCCR member in the future. Natascha Kappeler, is in her last year at high school and chose nanotechnology as topic of her high school research paper.

List of new NCCR scientists since August 2004.

Press releases ­– an important communication tool
As a National Center of Competence in Research we have to fulfill a role as interface between science and the society. Therefore, we should continuously communicate our scientific findings to the public. Important tools to achieve this are press releases ...

Nanotechnology – a topic in schools
Nanotechnology is an interesting topic also for young people. That became obvious in a high school diploma research paper (Maturandenarbeit) on nanotechnology produced by Natascha Kappeler.

BioNano Workshop
In January 2005, 38 scientists from the NCCR Nanoscale Science and the UK meet for a Bio Nano Workshop in Lenzerheide, Switzerland.

Nanofair
With the participation of numerous NCCR members the second nanofair took place from 14^th to 16^th September, 2004, in St. Gallen, Switzerland.

Biovalley Science Days
From 13^th until 22^nd October 2004, the third Biovalley Science Week took place in Lörrach, Freiburg, Strasbourg, Colmar, and Basel. One afternoon during the event was basically carried out by the NCCR Nanoscale Science

Science and business in dialogue
Following the Biovalley Science Day on 19^th October, 2004, the Basel Chamber of Commerce organized their tenth meeting “Science and Business in dialogue”, this time focusing on nanoscale science. Professor Güntherodt (NCCR Nanoscale Science) introduced about 400 interested participants to the fascinating nanoworld.

From a single lens to scanning probe microscopy – Science Days at Rust
During this years’ Science Days in October 2004 at the Europa Park Rust (Germany), the NCCR Nanoscale Science presented the development of microscopy to the 15’000 visiting pupils.

Physics for Tomorrow
Members of the NCCR Nanoscale Science joined a group of students from the Gymnasium Liestal to the launch conference of the World Year of Physics in Paris in January 2005.

Internal and external events in the coming months

Publications by NCCR members from August 2004 - February 2005)

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