News

The incredible shrinking world of nanotechnology

(3 November 2003)

School children from across Stockton have the chance to experience the incredible shrinking world of nanotechnology during a special event on Wednesday 5 November.

Over 100 secondary school pupils will hear one of the UK’s top younger scientists, Dr Russell Cowburn of the University of Durham’s Physics Department, explain about the quiet revolution occurring in science laboratories throughout the world that will change virtually every aspect of our lives.

The lecture is designed to capture the fun of science and will demonstrate how microchips can be made using laser light and what happens if you try to squash light; how atoms can spontaneously arrange themselves into organised patterns; how to write your name with electrons and how to copy all of the books in the world onto a postage stamp! Other highlights include new types of microchips, potential cures for cancer and security tags that are impossible to forge.

The lecture has been jointly organised by Stockton Riverside College and the University of Durham to commemorate the life of Madeleine Mary Walker, a remarkable former student of both institutions. When she died in her fifties her parents established the Madeleine Mary Walker Science Foundation from monies raised throughout her successful career, with one of the objectives being to support educational establishments dedicated to enriching the learning experience in the disciplines where she made her name. Sujinder Sangha, Principal, Stockton Riverside College said:”We are delighted that a representative from the University of Durham should present the first in a series of annual lectures related to Science and Engineering given the career history of our former student. The inaugural Madeleine Mary Walker lecture is aimed at Gifted & Talented students from years 10 and 11 to inspire today’s students to aim high and realise their full potential”.

Dr Cowburn said:”This is a great opportunity to inspire young people and to share the excitement of being involved in such groundbreaking research. Scientists are now learning how to control the smallest building blocks of our world – atoms themselves. While once people disputed whether atoms exist, now we can pick them up, move them around and build the most minute structures. This knowledge has the potential to allow us to build computers the size of a grain of sand, to make clothes that don't get dirty and might even provide a cure for cancer”.

Margaret Armstrong Theatre, Stockton Riverside College. Lecture commences at 2 p.m. with photo opportunities 2-3p.m.

Further information:

Jan Cawood, Public Relations Officer, University of Durham Tel: 0191-334-0018
Dr Russell Cowburn, Dept of Physics, University of Durham 0191 334 3598, www.durham.ac.uk/r.p.cowburn

Notes to Editors

Dr Russell Cowburn is a member of staff in the Department of Physics at the University of Durham. He has worked in nanotechnology for 10 years. He leads a research group of scientists who are trying to use nanotechnology to build minute computers that don't use any electricity, to make the world's smallest magnetic compass and to make credit cards impossible to forge or copy. Dr Cowburn has been hailed as one of the UK’s top younger scientists with the award of the 2003 Westminster Medal. The medal and £500 prize is awarded at the annual Science Week reception at the House of Commons that features displays of research work by over 150 of Britain’s leading younger scientists, engineers and technologists. Dr Cowburn was recently promoted by Durham University to the academic grade of Reader in Physics (only one step away from Professor) at the unusually early age of 31. His work in the emerging field of nanotechnology – extremely small-scale applications – has already drawn wide international attention, particularly for his work with nano-magnets and “spintronics”, which uses the magnetic spin features of atoms in new forms of electronics and computing operations.

Madeleine Mary Walker

• Pupil at St Patrick’s RC School Thornaby and St Mary’s Convent, Middlesbrough where she obtained 9 passes in GCE in 1956.
• Student at Constantine Technical College, Middlesbrough where she gained three further GCEs, mathematics, physics and chemistry in 1958.
• Student at Stockton Billingham Technical College where she studied and gained three advanced levels in mathematics, physics and chemistry in 1959.
• First degree a BSc Durham University in 1962.
• MSc from London University in 1969 and a further MSc from Durham University in 1984.
• Elected a member of the British Computer Society in 1985
• Chartered Engineer and managing director of her own engineering company.
• Led a university expedition to Lapland whilst at Durham.
• Member of the teaching staff at Darwin College, a university in Australia for many years and secured dual nationality, Australian and British.
• Died in her fifties from cancer when her parents established the Madeleine Mary Walker Foundation from monies raised through her career.
• Established the Madeleine Mary Walker Science Centre at Stockton Riverside College in 2003 with a £50 000 donation from the foundation.