Illawarra's 'Young Ambassadors' visit UOW

Dec 21, 2006

Electrochromic displays, conducting polymer actuators for artificial muscles and a hydrogen fuel cell car were just a few of the demonstrations students were treated to recently at the University of Wollongong as part of the Australian Research Council Nanotechnology Network (ARCNN) Young Ambassador's program.

ARCNN Convenor from the Australian National University, Professor Chennupati Jagadish, visited UOW today (Thursday 21 December) to officially award the UOW students who lead the demonstrations - Brianna Thompson and Jenny Halldorsson.

Students from six schools in the Illawarra region recently visited the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute to participate in the program where they witnessed a range of presentations from UOW students and researchers which explained what nanotechnology is and some examples of how it is used in current applications.

One particularly convincing example highlighting the benefits of nanotechnology was that of nanostructured solar cells being used in comparison to conventional silicon solar cell technology, to generate movement in a conducting polymer actuator.

The students also had the chance to talk with the presenters and discuss any questions they had about the demonstrations.