ANAM2019: Showcasing Nanoscience & Fostering International Collaboration

The field of nanomaterials has exploded in recent years, and perhaps the main pillar of its success has been a close collaboration between institutions and research groups across the globe. In September 2019, Dr Habil Souren Grigorian at the University of Siegen, Professor Ishkhan Vardanyan at Yerevan State University and their colleagues organised an event that showcased Armenia’s growing interest in this area of research. Following a week of activities widely praised by its participants, the Advanced Nanomaterials and Methods (ANAM) 2019 International Workshop and Young Scientist School promises to spark further innovation in nanomaterials research in Armenia and the surrounding regions.

Facilitating Knowledge Exchange

Within a field as diverse and complex as nanoscience, new advances are far more likely to be made through exchanges of knowledge between researchers from widely varying backgrounds. With this in mind, Dr Souren Grigorian of the University of Siegen, Professor Ishkhan Vardanyan of Yerevan State University and their collaborators set out to extend this network within Armenia and facilitate opportunities for nanomaterials research, which is currently spearheaded by Yerevan State University (YSU).

On September 25^th, 2019, YSU’s Departments of Molecular Physics and Solid State Physics opened ANAM2019, hosting a diverse array of nanomaterials researchers across the globe.

‘ANAM2019 aimed to bring together leading scientists and researchers from different fields of nanomaterials and nanocomposites, as well as their characterisation methods on various scales,’ describes Dr Grigorian. ‘Our aim was to create new scientific links in this novel and fast-developing field in Armenia and the neighbouring countries of the region. The multidisciplinarity of ANAM2019 brought together experts and scientists from nanotechnology and nanoscience, with backgrounds in complementary fields: chemistry, physics, biology, medicine and material science.’ The announcement of ANAM2019 received strong interest from the scientific community, with over 100 participants from more than 12 countries – ranging from USA to Singapore.

To strengthen these links further, and to inspire future innovations, the event also served to connect world-renowned researchers with promising students in the field. ‘Many students and young scientists had the possibility not only to attend lectures, but also to have direct contact with these invited world-renowed speakers,’ Dr Grigorian continues. ‘We have received a lot of positive feedback concerning the ANAM2019 events from experts, as well as from students.’

This sentiment was shared by four particular participants with widely varying backgrounds – from a Masters’ student just starting out in the field, to experimentalists with decades of experience. Next, we’ll discuss the research of these four individuals and highlight their experiences of ANAM2019.

Understanding Biology with Nanotechnology

Dr Sergio Moya is a group leader at CIC biomaGUNE – a non-profit research organisation based in San Sebastian in Spain. His group is dedicated to using nanotechnology to understanding biological systems on microscopic scales.

At ANAM2019, Dr Moya presented a study on biomaGUNE’s latest research into ‘polyelectrolytes’ – polymer nanoparticles hosting repetitive chains of charges. His study explored the numerous advantages of these structures, including their ease of synthesis and assembly, their strong responses to their surrounding environments, and their suitability for hybrid materials and coatings. Later, Dr Moya gave a talk detailing the urgent need for a deeper understanding of the impacts of engineered nanotechnologies on human health – both through nanomedicines, and through accidental exposure.

Dr Moya praises the social aspects of ANAM2019, which allowed him to interact with researchers he has known and worked with throughout his long career, while at the same time, gaining new perspectives.

‘For me, ANAM2019 was an interesting opportunity to meet old and new friends, while discussing science at a high level,’ he recalls. ‘I had great fun during the meeting and enjoyed the varied topics presented. From the perspective of the Armenian students, both graduate and undergraduate, it was very useful to be exposed to different scientific topics and scientists from all over the world in a very relaxed and friendly environment.’

‘The multidisciplinarity of ANAM2019 brought together experts and scientists from nanotechnology and nanoscience, with backgrounds in complementary fields: chemistry, physics, biology, medicine and material science.’

Nanomaterials for Advanced Technologies

As an Associate Professor at the Sapienza University of Rome, Professor Ilaria Fratoddi aims to develop new nanomaterials for advanced technological applications, including sensors, nanomedicines and biotechnologies. Her methods for producing these materials including chemical synthesis, and structural and functional studies of existing nanomaterials.

At ANAM2019, Professor Fratoddi presented a study on how the properties of nanoparticles can be fine-tuned by controlling their size, shape, composition, order, and structure. She also gave a talk on the versatile and controllable optical properties of nanoparticles synthesised using corrosion-resistant metals, for applications including catalysis and energy conversion.

Like Dr Moya, Professor Fratoddi also relished the social aspects of the event, and was particularly impressed by the scope of scientific topics that were covered within the wider field of nanomaterials.

‘ANAM2019 was a really interesting and well-organised opportunity to share scientific results in a friendly context,’ she describes. ‘The organisation was excellent, and the choice of speakers covered different scientific fields. This gave a real multidisciplinary approach to material science, and at the same time, was an informal and open-minded opportunity.’

Even with her years of experience in the field, Professor Fratoddi felt that the interactions facilitated by the events presented her with fresh new ideas for her research. ‘The school and meeting gave me the chance to look at high-level research by scientists from different backgrounds,’ she continues. ‘I enjoyed listening to the very recent scientific results of colleagues, and on occasion, to find new connections and to improve or start new collaborations.’

Supporting Students

Perhaps the one aspect of ANAM2019 most celebrated by its participants was the open inclusion of students, just starting out in their careers in nanomaterials. ‘One of the things I appreciated was the contributions from young students, who presented their first results and had the chance to compare their results with those of other scientists,’ Professor Fratoddi adds. ‘The warm hospitality and the attention to every detail made this meeting one of the best in my experience.’

One such participant was Varazdat Stepanyan, a Masters’ student at YSU, who alongside Dr Moya, Professor Fratoddi and their distinguished colleagues, presented a study regarding interactions between polyelectrolytes. In the talk, he highlighted how calculations of these interactions can be made more accurate through particular mathematical approaches.

Stepanyan and his peers particularly benefitted from the Young Scientist School aspect of the event, which ran alongside the main workshop. Through both academic and social events, the school enabled prospective nanomaterials researchers to forge relationships, which would prove invaluable in helping them to break into the field.

‘As a student participating in ANAM2019 I can say that it was a wonderful experience,’ Stepanyan expresses. ‘The school was very useful as we had the opportunity to both attend lectures and give short speeches about our research. Not only was the scientific part of the school and workshop organised very well, but the entertainment activities were also excellent, which helped the younger participants form a connection with the elder participants.’

Diverse Topics, Common Methodology

Also attending YSU as a PhD student, Arevik Asatryan joined Professor Fratoddi in praising the diverse variety of research areas presented at ANAM2019. ‘Participation in both school and workshop was an incredible experience for me,’ she says. ‘I got the opportunity to learn from scientists from all over the world, who work in various fields: from solid state physics to biophysics and physical chemistry. The topics varied from physical methods of investigations to pure biological research. Despite the diversity of the topics, the methodology used was common.’

As part of the workshop, Asatryan and her colleagues presented three of their recent studies – two of them detailing how biological polymers transition from states of order, to states of disorder. This involved calculating the free energy of polymer nanoparticles, derived from multiple different monomers, using new techniques. In turn, other parameters of these nanoparticles could be calculated afterwards. In addition, Asatryan reported new insights into the properties of quantum wires, which are so thin that the ways in which they conduct electricity are influenced by quantum effects.

Asatryan describes how ANAM2019 allowed her to promote her achievements among established researchers, while finding answers to pressing issues which had been holding back her research. ‘I was able to find answers to questions not only from my field but also from other fields,’ she continues. ‘Moreover, I found out about another experimental method for structural investigations of macromolecules, which may help us in the future in order to compare the results. I also made some connections with the professors whose research topics and specific investigations were very interesting for me. This may even lead to future collaboration.’

Inspiring Future Innovation

ANAM2019 concluded on October 2^nd following a week of presentations and workshops, but its impact will almost certainly be felt within the wider field of nanomaterials well into the future. As Dr Habil Grigorian concludes, the widespread consensus among participants was that the event was a resounding success.

‘We expect that with a strong contribution of international experts and leading scientists, ANAM2019 will have served as a platform for networking,’ he says. ‘It has also initiated joint research projects, which could help to facilitate the development of young scientists, and to influence their future research.’

ANAM2019 now places Armenia among the diverse nations making significant contributions to nanomaterials research, strengthening the prospects for this exciting field even further.