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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 22, 2004)
Nanoparticles allow for 'green' technology By aligning the miniature particles from the bottom-up, researchers create a 'statue' that's environmentally safe BY ANTHONY LUCERO NEWS REPORTER Years after the demise of the logging industry, Oregon is now being called the “Silicon Forest.” Like Silicon Val ley in California is a center of high technology, the state is the center of much nanotechnology and rnicrotech nology development with industry big leagues like Intel Corporation teaming up with universities to create the Ore gon Nanoscience and Microtechnolo gies Institute (ONAMI). The institute is part of a collaboration between the University, Oregon State University, Portland State University and the Pacif ic Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Wash. “1 worked with ONAMI since its inception,” said Associate Chemistry Professor Jim Hutchison, adding that there are more than 20 faculty mem bers from each participating univer sity in ONAMI. Here at the University, the focus is on nanotech nology. Hutchison said he is interested in the miniatures of the world. “There are two things that are of interest in nan otech,” he said. “One is, of course, the small size and the other is the new properties we see in nanoparticles — it’s the properties that excite us.” Hutchison said he works using a “bottom-up” approach. The re searchers employ the analogy that to make a statue with a slab of marble, one must chisel it, which wastes much of the marble and takes more energy to construct the statue out of the slab. Hutchison said their method of devel opment is to arrange nanoparticles so they assemble the statue. “If you actually look at the nanoparticles in gold, they are a ruby-red color, which we have used for ruby glass,” Hutchison said. “At the nano level, we can design particles with a controlled size and shape and can find mole cules that will assemble the particles together. ” Hutchison s bottom-up method saves time, mon ey and is less hazardous, he said. His lab is pioneering “green” technology, which can accomplish more efficien cy while reducing the level of haz ardous material both in labs and the environment. Hutchison said he has used “green” practices for a research project he be gan in 1997, working to use safer ma terials in nanotechnology manufactur ing processes in the lab that would also not pose a hazard to the environment. His lab recently patented the rights to a new synthetic procedure that elimi nates the use of diborane and benzene, two hazardous materials in gold nanoparticles. “Nanotech is just blossoming and commercial availability is not around just yet,” said Greg Kearns, a gradu ate chemistry student working in Hutchison’s lab. Intel, Hutchison says, already uses approximately 34 million nanoparti cles in its Pentium 3 transistors. For its next-generation microprocessors, the amount of nanoparticles will multiply significantly. Kearns said mi croprocessors and optics are two ar eas that are currently in focus with nanotechnology and that with optics, researchers are trying components that steer light as much as 90 degrees without any loss of light. While ONAMI has not officially opened its 60,000-square-foot head quarters, it’s already receiving criti cism from the Campaign to Demilita rize Oregon's Schools. The group cites concerns such as student tuition subsidizing weapons development, Nike "smart clothes” and the plan to use taxpayer money to make the tax exempt building “smart” with video surveillance cameras they describe as “Orwellian.” The Campaign to De militarize Oregon's Schools’ Web site is http://nanobotinvasion.cjb.net. anthonylu.cero@dailyemerald.com THE NANOMETER Just how small is a nanometer? Each particle, which can be seen under a Transmission Electron Microscope, is approxi mately one billionth of a meter, according to Professor Jim Hutchison. ASUO: Executives seek disciplinary action, issue public apology Continued from page 1A completely dry retreat,” George said, adding that event leaders used “many avenues” to convey that the retreat was to be alcohol free. “There were announcements at public meetings and at staff meetings and to each of the persons who were basically in charge of a house in Sunriver that there was to be no alcohol or drugs on this retreat.” The ASUO spent about $3,200 of in cidental-fee funds on housing for the retreat. Debra Campbell, operations man agers for Sunset Realty, said she was “disappointed” that members of the University would leave inappropriate comments in a rental house guest log. “It was very disrespectful of the stu dents to take a guest comment book and write inappropriate comments that would be read by the owner and guests who stayed on the property,” she said. “It was very immature and left the impression that as representa tives of the University, they would be less than desirable.” Campbell said her organization was able to remove the offending material before it was read by others and that no other damages occurred, adding that a plumber did have to be called af ter a retreat participant accidentally flushed his cell phone down a toilet in one of the houses. Campbell added that her company has had “good expe riences” with most of the campus groups that stay in rental units. George and Ravassipour wrote a let ter to Sunset Realty after the incident apologizing for the behavior of a “few of our group members. ” “The students involved will be sub ject to discipline under University of Oregon rules,” the letter states. “We sincerely hope that the actions of a few immature students will not negatively affect your view of the University and its student leadership.” George said he and Ravassipour, who were the head members at the event, approached Loschiavo to dis cuss how to handle the infractions. Loschiavo said the first step when a group is accused of a conduct violation is to have the organization govern itself so that group members have a “chance to take responsibility for what they did” and make plans to prevent a re peat occurrence. He added that he is not treating the ASUO members differently than he would a fraternity or sorority, and that he has high expectations. “I fully expect they will rise to the occasion,” he said. “This group came to me up front, which is a really good place to start.” Retreat attendees met Wednesday night in a closed meeting in the EMU to discuss individual involvement in the violations and determine reme dies, George said. “The meeting that we had last night was a debriefing meeting as to ways we can prevent this from happening again,” George said. He added that the Emerald was ejected from the event so people could feel comfortable confessing their in volvement in the illegal activities. “We felt it was in the best interests of the group, the mood of the group, to have the press not involved so that they would feel comfortable basically taking responsibility for their actions,” George said. George said the group wants ‘‘to show students at the University of Ore gon that we are the leaders that they elected or hired us to be and that this will not in any way hinder our duties and our responsibilities to protect and work for the students at the University of Oregon.” George said a public apology is the first action to result from disciplinary meetings. “We think that the first step that we can take to work toward a remedy to the situation is a public apology to the stu dents and to the administration, which is a separate letter that we are drafting as well,” he said. “We know that this letter is not a cure-all, and we don’t expect it to be. We will continue to meet with (participants from the retreat) to further discuss appropriate ways that we can remedy the situation.” ASUO President Adam Petkun, who did not attend the event, said discipli nary action may result from the violations. “There will be a subsequent meeting next week to discuss further disciplinary action and also personnel action and (whether) conduct code ac tions (are) necessary,” Petkun said. ASUO Public Relations Director Nathan Strauss said the current ad ministration can’t be responsible for al cohol consumed at past retreats, but that drinking probably occurred. “If you were to ask other people, this wouldn’t be the first time that al cohol has ever been at a retreat,” he said. “Any University retreat at any lev el, it would be inaccurate to say that there’s never alcohol involved.” EMU Director Dusty Miller said he attended the retreat with the group and did not witness any illicit behavior. Miller said the “exceptional” retreat was one of the best he’s seen in the 30 years he has worked with campus groups. He said he commends the group for taking ownership of the conduct issues. “1 respect that and I applaud them for trying to address this amongst themselves,” he said. parkerhoweU@dailyemerald. com Baha’i Eaith “So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.” - Baha’u’llah To learn about the Baha’i Faith and our activities in the i 344-3173 or 1-800-1 Eugene/Springfield area ield area call -22-UNITE. 01506126 www.bahai.org Unitarian Universalist Young Adults Group Meets Sunday 7 pm Meets in EMU Maple For info call 686-2775 Sunday sen/ices 9:00/11:00 477 E. 40th Ave., take bus #24 Find a supportive community in the guide to Spriritual Programs every Friday GOOD FOR THE SPIRIT Reach out to students with an ad here 346-4343 .... t*P= 3 Central Lutheran Church (ELCA) 6 Welcomes Youl Holy Communion: Sundays 8:15 & 10:45; 6:30pm 2 Student/Young Adults Bible Study 8 Sundays, 7:30 pm $ 18th & Potter-345-0394 J .—— -—111 -11 — Central Presbyterian Church We Welcome You o 8;30 & 11:00 AM worship g www.centralpresbychurch.net g 555 E. 15th Ave. • 345-8724 ODE CLASSIFIEDS Our rates can't be beat! call 346-4343 £6190511) ^ & ' '* I :.Ui St Thomas More NEWMAN CENTER Feathers \of\ led? Duck into Newman. St. Thomas More Newman Center... Catholic Campus Ministry Social Connections Wednesdays 9:00 pm Coffeehouses Midweek Social & Student Mass Student Dinners Sunday student Mass 7:30 pm Sports Events Faith Community Engaging Masses Meaningful Retreats Guest Speakers Societal Commitment Mexico Mission Trip Charity Fundraisers Social Service Projects RCIA class Wednesday, October 27 7-9:00 pm October 22-24 Student Retreat (McKenzie Bridge) November 12 Coffee House, 7:00 pm 1850 Emerald Street (south of Hayward Field) • 546-4468 Visit our Web site at newmanctr-uoregon.org or send us.an e.-mail to newman@newmanctr-uoregon.org
