January 22, 2018

Nobel Prize winner to give free public lecture in Wollongong

Sir Fraser Stoddart to explain molecular machines and nanotechnology as part of ICONN 2018

The International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICONN) 2018, hosted by the University of Wollongong (UOW), will open its doors to the community for a free public lecture featuring Nobel Prize Winner in Chemistry 2016, Sir Fraser Stoddart.

The lecture entitled “My Journey to Stockholm” will be held in the University Hall at UOW’s main campus from 5pm to 6pm, Monday, 29 January 2018.

This presentation will communicate scientific concepts such as molecular machines and nanotechnology at a general audience level as well as provide insight into the magnificent mind of a Nobel Prize winning scientist and what it takes to win such a prestigious award.

Sir Fraser received this important award for his 1991 development of “rotaxane”, a structure in which a molecular ring is threaded onto a thin molecular axle, and demonstrating that the ring could move along the axle.

This achievement led to innovations such as a molecular lift, a molecular muscle and a molecule based computer chip.

Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES), Professor Gordon Wallace said it is an honour to host three Nobel Prize winners at this important event and provide the unique opportunity for the public to experience this.

“ACES at UOW are excited to bring the world of science and innovation to the Gong. Given our society of tomorrow will be built in the science of today, we know the local community will get engaged,” Professor Wallace said.

Sir Fraser will be visiting from the Stoddart Mechanostereochemistry Group in the Department of Chemistry at Northwestern University in Illinois, however he has recently been appointed part-time to the School of Chemistry at UNSW where he will spend three months each year.

This lecture is part of the ICONN 2018, which is expected to bring over 700 international visitors to Wollongong, the first regional city to be hosting the biennial event.

For more information on the free public lecture or to register your attendance for the event please click here.

About the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES)

Headquartered at the University of Wollongong’s Innovation Campus, the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES) is a multidisciplinary research group with a focus on developing functional devices for applications including batteries, solar cells and systems that interact with living tissue.