Engines of Creation

Some more info on what Maju had to tell. This is path breaking book which paved way for research in nanotechnology. I thought I should share the below info about the book and also about the author:

Originally published in 1986, K. Eric Drexler’s Engines of Creation laid the theoretical foundation for the modern field of nanotechnology and articulated the amazing possibilities and dangers associated with engineering at the molecular scale. Unique for both its style and substance, the book is today recognized as the seminal work in nanotechnology and has earned Drexler the title of “Father of Nanotechnology.”

Engines of Creation 2.0: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology – Updated and Expanded, is an ebook-only version available for free to readers exclusively through WOWIO. In addition to an updated “look and feel” for the ebook, Engines of Creation 2.0 has been expanded to include the first known lecture on nanotechnology by physicist Richard Feynman, the landmark open letter debate between Dr. Drexler and the late nanotech pioneer and Nobel laureate Dr. Richard Smalley, analysis of the debate by Ray Kurzweil, and a number of new additions by Dr. Drexler, including his advice to aspiring nanotechnologists.

K. Eric Drexler is often described as the ‘father of nanotechnology’. In 1981, he outlined an approach to implementing productive nanosystems in a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. This paper established fundamental principles of molecular design, protein engineering, and many areas of nanotechnology. Drexler’s theoretical research in this field has been the basis for numerous journal articles and books including Engines of Creation and Nanosystems: Molecular Machinery, Manufacturing, and Computation. Drexler founded the Foresight Institute, a non-profit organization focused on nanotechnology and served as Chairman until his departure in 2003. He is presently Chief Technical Advisor to Nanorex, a company developing design software for molecular engineering. Drexler was awarded a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Molecular Nanotechnology (the first degree of its kind).

Visit http://e-drexler.com

Jayadev

Filed under: books, history, Sciences, books, Drexler, Engines of Creation, Eric Drexler, Feynman, Nanosystems, nanotechnology, Richard Feynman, Richard Smalley, Smalley

Nano in India

Hello welcome back

Thanks for the huge response (surprisingly I got more direct mails than the posts on the blog). The basic question that many close friends asked was “Why magazine on Nano Science & Tech?”, while others warmly welcomed the idea.

My answer would be not just “Why not?” but as I had mentioned after long deliberations and meetings with people we thought it would apt to have a magazine on this subject since it is the future technology and will transform the lives of people.

There are two important people who actually directly and indirectly have made me look at this subject, understand and even plan a magazine. They are: First is my ex-editor (editor of Computers Today) late J S Raju. In fact it was in MapIndia conference in 2005 Jan at Delhi that we both talked about this and he said why not have magazine for Nano in India. Though Nano Science and Technology was Greek and Latin to me then, I gave a serious and patient hearing to Sir’s words and by evening on that eventful day I had basic idea of what this technology has got in store for people. Though we both wanted to start a magazine, it didn’t happen and sadly when I am now ready to start the magazine, he is not there to witness it. But I would never ever forget to give the credit to that great human and mentor.

Next is obvious, but he is the person who has made me take the idea to reality. It is none other than Dr CNR Rao. I need not mention about this great visionary. Though I haven’t ever met him, after Mr Raju’s intro about Nano Science and Technology, I started doing my basic research to understand better about this new subject. And I have read, re-read articles, interviews and extracts of papers that Dr Rao has written and published. He is the man who has been in-directly very influential for me to take forward the idea of starting an exclusive niche publication on Nano.

I take this opportunity to thank these two great personalities on this platform. Hopefully I will be able to meet Dr Rao at EMSI conference at Bhundekhand University, Jhansi on Jan 17. Before I get on to my magazine I would like to remind you all about the famous quote of Dr CNR Rao:

“We missed the semiconductor revolution in the early 1950s. We had just gained independence. But with nanoscience and technology, we can certainly be on an equal footing with the rest of the world. …”

Let’s not miss out on Nano Science & Technology revolution that the country is at the moment taking up. The initiative of the government to set up Nano Mission (again under able leadership of Dr Rao) is a clear indication that we are not going to miss the bus this time! And hopefully as we travel through the developments of this technology Nano India will document and present them to you all with all the sincerity and passion for the technology.

Once again thanks for your kind and encouraging mails… I would also like you all to post comments so that we can churn out a better magazine.

Jayadev

Filed under: Sciences, nanotechnology

Biggest stories of 2008

For Nanotechnology’s biggest stories of 2008 check www.newscientist.com.

While I give you some food for thought about the latest happenings… I will make another post some time later which will spell out our idea and plan for the magazine. From then I hope you all to come out with recommendations and suggestions that should help us to deliver the best.

Back in few nano hours…

Jayadev
Editor
Nano India Mag

Filed under: Sciences, nanotechnology