How can Nanotechnology change Vietnamese daily-life? What kind of application fields for nanotechnology is prospective in the future of Vietnam and attractive for young Vietnamese?
We have discussed this issue with Prof. Yoji Shibutani – Professor of Department of Mechanical Engineering of Osaka University, Director of Center for Atomic and Molecular Technologies of Osaka University and Director of Master’s Program in Nanotechnology, Vietnam-Japan University
Professor Yoji Shibutani
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Osaka University
Director of Center for Atomic and Molecular Technologies of Osaka University,
Director of Master’s Program in Nanotechnology, Vietnam-Japan University
Could you please tell the successful research trend of Nanotechnology today?
First of all, we would like to discuss the “size and scale”. “NANO-meter” is 10-9 [m] and we can’t see anything directly. But we know the existence of atoms and molecules with nanometer size in any condensed matter, liquid and gas. It is easily expected that the landscape of them to see at each scale is quite different. Remind that concept of “SIZE” is different from that of “SCALE”. The “SIZE” of thing is rather absolute and “SCALE” seems to be relative.
Let’s say. Don’t you think that the nano- and micro-sized machines with almost the same size of virus can improve our daily life? Of course, YES, THEY CAN. If they can move inside the blood vessel of human body, the unfavorable bump nucleated on the smooth blood wall surface will be removed successfully without any pain to patient.
On a separate note, let us think of one clip, as shown in Fig.1. Its scale is millimeter-order and everyone uses it when bundling some papers. Why is the wire of clip bent and formed permanently? Most of people don’t understand that it’s by dislocations as a lattice defect observed in the crystalline materials. A lot of theses defects are introduced in the wire materials when bending, and the number of them reaches almost 109 per square meter. Thus, the representative scale of defect is nanometer again. Remind that the visible clip can be formed by the nanometer-sized defective events over the scale. This means that nanotechnology can change the visible phenomena, products and so on very much.
Fig.1 Size and scale map
Nano technology products have made their presence in Vietnam market and gradually become more popular to Vietnamese consumers. In particularly, there are several chemical cosmetic, supplement diatery, such as sunscreen and curcumin, etc. Besides, Nano technology is also applied to create construction materials. Nano paint is a typical example and it is well-known for the capability of water-resist and super smooth surface. High tech products like computer, mobile phone, equipment for science and industry are required nano technology to increase the efficiency of working process.
How do you think about the investment into the development of high-quality human resources that will make big changes in the field of Nanotechnology in Vietnam?
If nanotechnology is applied only as a tool which could resolve the mechanism of phenomena from the nanometer-sized events, it is just looking at one side of nanotechnology. We’ve already known that such a small-scaled technology can drastically change the quality and performance of industrial products very much. Let us introduce a part of successful Japanese products using nanotechnology in Fig. 2. It can detect the status of air pollution very precisely for the environmental social problem, guarantee the safety of food, monitor our healthcare and so on. These fields are immediate applicability to the growing Vietnam society.
OK. Who takes note of this idea? Of course, the researchers and engineers who are engaged in the design and manufacture of products. Therefore, it is very clear that the smart human resources who know and handle the nanotechnology is necessary to yield such an innovation.
Fig. 2 Japanese cutting-edge products are designed using nanotechnology
Why is the interdisciplinary learning necessary for Nanotechnology
Master’s Program in Nanotechnology (MNT) has been designed with much emphasis on the interdisciplinary field among physics, chemistry and biotechnology. Because the latest innovative discoveries and technologies towing the cutting-edge fields have come up from the fusion among three academic fields. Our Admission Policy requires prospective students to have one basic knowledge and skill at least among the above three kinds of fields as a firm backbone when enrolling to MNT. And then our Curriculum Policy promotes students of MNT to learn the other academic field except their background and, at the same time, to make their home academic field more depthful. The latter way is so called “READ BEWEEN SENTENSES IN THE TEXTBOOK”.
MNT in VJU is based on the education program of Osaka University, Japan. The program blends professional knowledge, industry knowledge and expertise in nanotechnology. Many achievements and latest researches in the field of nanotechnology in Japan are included in the training content. Students of MNT are participated in cutting-edge research topics such as physics, chemistry, biology, pharmacy, environment and energy on nanotechnology with leading professors of Japan and Vietnam.
In particular, at least 50% of students will be subsidized as full three-month internship students at Japanese universities and companies. This is also great experience and opportunity for the students to stay at the laboratories of Japanese universities.
For the first courses, students will receive great supports from both Governments of Japan and Vietnam on tuition fees.
VJU is actively cooperating with businesses, especially Japanese enterprises, in calling for scholarships and job opportunities for graduates. Thus, students of VJU surely have the big chance for their future career paths which the other Vietnamese universities never have.
