MINUTE MAGIC: A scientist works at the nanotech lab at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research in Bangalore

I want to build a billion tiny factories, models of each other, which are manufacturing simultaneously.” Richard Feynman, Nobel Prize winner in physics, had expressed that wish way back in 1959. But it is only now that his vision is being brought to life. Recently, a group of scientists at Cornell University in the US created a tiny guitar the size of a human red blood cell. They made it by sculpting the shape from silicon crystals, the material used in computer chips. And they made the “nanoguitar” not to play it (though music can waft out of it), but to demonstrate what sort of thing can be built in a size that small.

This is the magic of nanotechnology. The science of the miniature (nano in Greek means ‘dwarf’), though a relatively new area of study, is fast emerging as a vastly rewarding stream to specialise in, thanks to its applications in fields as diverse as medicine and fabrics.

Agrees Mark E. Welland, head of Nanoscience Centre, University of Cambridge, UK, “In a recent survey done in the UK, nanotechnology was found to impact every industry, from aeronautics and food to electronics and security. The commercial advantages of nanoscience and nanotechnology are tremendous and we are just scraping the tip of those potential benefits.” In fact, Welland takes umbrage at the term ‘nanotechnology.’ He insists that the correct term ought to be ‘nanotechnologies’ since one can’t restrict it to just one industry.

So what is it about nanotechnology that promises to revolutionise our way of life? To understand this, we should remember that everything on this earth is made up of atoms, and the property of everything is determined by the arrangement of these atoms. At present, scientists are able to move molecules and atoms in a mass though they are still not able to precisely manipulate them. But in the future, nanotechnology will allow us to redesign and create exactly what we want.

Further, nanomaterials would be very light, strong and transparent. This is possible simply because materials, when reduced to nanodimensions (one nanometre is one millionth of a millimetre), show drastic changes in their physical, chemical, magnetic, optical, mechanical and electrical properties.

Nanotechnology as a career option will not be a cakewalk, however. “The field is a technology-intensive area, so a prospective student needs to be prepared for intense academic rigour and adequate lab training for expert handling of advanced equipment like electron microscopy and micro-engineering,” cautions Jayesh Bellare, professor, department of chemical engineering, and school of biosciences and bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai.

But the rewards and opportunities in this field are likely to be endless as the scope and application of nanotechnology is tremendous. In fact, according to scientists, this century will probably be known as the nanotechnology century. As C.B. Sobhan, co-ordinator of the Centre for Nanotechnology, and professor at the department of mechanical engineering, National Institute of Technology, Calicut, elucidates, “This field has become important since it deals with re-engineering materials and processes to make ideal and optimised products. It also holds the potential to change the structure of the world in the future.”

Nanotechnology has several important sub-fields impacting different spheres of life. For instance, nanobiotechnology enables us to make tiny medical devices and sensors for military and civilian use. Says, A.M. Sudhakara, systems engineer at the University Computer Centre, University of Mysore, “We expect to make devices like nano-robots, which when injected into human beings will, among other things, find blood blockages and rectify them.”

Thus, it is estimated that there will be no sector or industry that will not use nanotechnology in the future. “This field has brought physicists, chemists, biologists, engineers and medical scientists together for the first time to brainstorm and engage in multidisciplinary research,” claims Pankaj Poddar, scientist, nanoscience group, physical/materials chemistry division, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune.

Though the field is in its infancy in India, the country is making dedicated efforts to come up fast in this area. In fact, this year, the Indian government has launched a scheme, ‘National Nanoscience and Technology Mission’, with a proposed outlay of Rs 1,000 crore spread over five years. And there is a great demand for students who do their MTech in nanotechnology both in India and abroad. Says Poddar, “The job scene widens if you have a PhD combined with some additional research experience in your kitty. The salaries for fresh PhD candidates usually start from Rs 10 lakh per annum.” Those with experience could expect to make as much as Rs 36 lakh a year. The job opportunities usually exist in academic and research institutions and in the R&D wings of companies.

So what makes for a successful nanotechnologist? Says Kamanio Chattopadhyay, chairman, department of materials engineering and co-ordinator, Nanocenter, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, “Interdisciplinary fields require that people have basic strengths in one of the core disciplines and then leverage that to synergise with other disciplines.”

In order to enrol for an MTech in nanotechnology, one must have a MSc/BTech or BE in any branch of science. Those desirous of a PhD have to clear the CSIR-JRF exam. However, Welland claims that it’s tough to design a course which would encompass all the different fields of nanotechnology. He suggests that the solution is to provide additional training in the field after students have mastered any of the basic sciences. However, the University of Cambridge, UK, does offer a masters degree in micro and nanotechnology enterprise.

Well and feels that India stands to benefit the most from nanotechnology. Blessed with trained manpower in the IT sector, expertise in nanotechnology will aid in manufacturing computer hardware at cheaper rates, making India an even more attractive global destination for IT.

So if you think small is beautiful, now is the time to ride the nanotech boom.