Partnerships in Nanoscience Explored between France and the United States

During June 3-5, 2007, a group of 50 researchers and invited participants came together at Argonne National Laboratory for the France-U.S. Nanoscience Workshop. The purpose of this workshop was to help stimulate U.S.-France collaborations in nanoscience. Pat Dehmer, Associate Director for Science, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Basic Energy Sciences, attended along with Linda Blevins, Technical and International Advisor. The importance of international collaboration and cooperation for solving critical issues in nanoscience and nanotechnology (e.g., in energy and information technology) was apparent. In yet another demonstration that international partnerships have always been important for the success of DOE laboratory-based research, participants from many of the DOE national laboratories were present.

Organizers for the French were Jean-Philippe Bourgoin, Director of Nanoscience Programs for CEA at Saclay, and Didier Stievenard, Deputy Director of CNRS Institute of Electronics, Microelectronics, and Nanotechnology in Lille. Dr. Eric Isaacs, Director of the Center for Nanoscale Materials (CNM) at Argonne, with Drs. Stephen Streiffer and Kathleen Carrado, also of the CNM, coordinated organization for the United States. Participation was divided fairly equally between the two countries.

(Left to right): Roland Herino (Scientific Attache for the Consulate General of France, French Embassy, Houston, Texas), Katie Carrado Gregar (User and Outreach Programs Manager, CNM), Eric Isaacs ( Director, CNM ), Jean-Philippe Bourgoin ( Director of Nanoscience Programs, CEA, Saclay), Doris Neumann (International Affairs for Fundamental Research, CEA), Didier Stievenard ( Deputy Director, CNRS Institute of Electronics, Microelectronics, and Nanotechnology, Lille), Patrick Bernier (Research Director, CNRS Office for USA/Canada, French Embassy, Washington, DC), Linda Blevins (Technical and International Advisor, DOE/BES)

Technical and breakout sessions (see agenda) focused on the areas of

• Electronic and Magnetic Properties
• Novel Nanomaterials and Devices for Energy
• Structural and Dynamic Properties at the Nanoscale
• Coherent Control of Electrons, Spins, and Photons
• Nanoscale Structure and Imaging

The goal was to have the right (i.e., small enough) number of attendees so that real discussion was possible across the nanoscience topics chosen on the basis of the joint interests of the U.S. and French organizers. U.S. participants were chosen to balance diverse scientific interests and representation across the national laboratory complex and affiliated universities. French scientists participated from across the CNRS and CEA complexes, including sites in Grenoble, Lille, Marseille, Paris, Rouen, Saclay, and Troyes.