CRANN researchers reported hoarse voices last week as the curtains dropped on the Innovation and Technologies Showcase on the evening of October 14th in TCD's O’Reilly Hall. The showcase, organised by TCD’s Research & Innovation team, provided companies with the opportunity to review novel projects and consider whether they would want to invest in the technologies, licence them into their company, or form their own campus company. CRANN had representation at 10 stands at the event and generated much interest.

CRANN is opening its doors this weekend to show the public the inner workings of this world-class nanoscience research institute. The fifth annual Open House Dublin, organised by the Irish Architecture Foundation, takes place from 7th to 10th October 2010. Over one weekend, over 100 Dublin buildings of all types and periods will open up their doors for citizens and visitors to explore the architecture of the city, with special tours by hundreds of professionals and enthusiasts, completely for free.
 

Ireland has been ranked 8th in the world for quality of research in Materials Science over the past decade, according to Thomson Reuters.  Ireland’s ranking of 8th out of 162 countries is well ahead of larger nations such as France, Canada, Australia and Japan.  Materials Science is the study of the characteristics and uses of materials and includes Nanoscience.  The data comes from the Essential Science Indicators database of Thomson Reuters and covered the period January 2000 to April 2010.  

Prof John Donegan, Head of the School of Physics, TCD, and Principal Investigator in CRANN, working with a team of Spanish, French, and Russian scientists, have developed a new approach to increasing light efficiency. Their paper was published in the journal Angewandte Chemie (2010, 49, No. 40, 7217-7221), one of the premier chemistry journals in the world.

Prof. Julia R. Greer, Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Mechanics, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), presented in CRANN last week as part of the institute’s 2010 International Seminar Series. Prior to her lecture, she spent some time discussing research across CRANN PI groups at a student poster presentation.