April 4 2006
University of the Pacific
Minutes, April 4, 2006
Library Community Room
Call to Order: 2:09
Present: Brodnick, Byl, Ensign, Frederick, Gilbertson, King, Miller, Pearson, Perro, Spreer, Vierra
Not Present: Brennan, Cavanaugh, Chi, Kreitzman, Lackey, Leland, Sexton, Sina
Special Guests: Elfi Kraka, Chair of Chemistry; Dieter Cremer, Research Professor in Chemistry
Minutes: Minutes of the March 21 meeting were reviewed, corrected, and approved.
Standing Reports:
Current Agenda Items:
Collaboration Vision Team Innovation Proposals: Nanotechnology Initiative
Cremer began by stating that nanotechnology will provide general improvement of life style all over the world. Samuel Stephens Kristlin, a graduate from Pacific in 1931, was one of the first scientists to introduce Nano Technology, according to Cremer. In nanotechnology, one generates useful and functional materials, systems, and devices that possess at least one dimension in the nano-range (1 to 100 nm) by controlling matter on the nanometer (nm) length scale and exploiting novel phenomena and properties (physical, chemical, biological) at that length scale. The nano-range is a natural scale of fundamental life processes. It is the scale at which diseases need to be met and conquered. And for everybody, nanotechnology will play an important role in life in the form of nano-medicine. What will Nanotechnology offer for our future:
- Computer and Information Technologies: Improvements to computing, sensing, communications, data storage, and display capacities.
- Energy Production and Conservation: Energy independence for the United States and ecologically sound production of energy.
- Robotics: Advanced, high-performance robotics leading to the creation of new medical devices, deep space exploration, and combat vehicles with minimal risk to human crews.
- New Materials: Composite materials with a high strength-to-weight ratio, self-healing materials, etc.
- Nano-Medicine: New drugs for chronic diseases, targeted drug delivery; nano-scale miniaturized medical diagnostic and treatment devices easing medical hardships, pain, suffering, and disabilities.
- National Security: Protection for persons in hazardous environments, clothing with nano-scale devices monitoring physiological vital signs, warn of exposure to harmful chemicals.
Certain requirements must be fulfilled:
- Financial basis must already be given.
- Incoming money must generate new money.
- Sustainability of the initiative must be guaranteed.
- Nano initiative must not weaken other disciplines at Pacific.
- It must be unifying.
A director will be needed to organize the initiative. This person will be scientifically competent and knowledgeable, have a strong research program, have a background in interdisciplinary research, be able to lead junior and senior faculty, and must be a competent partner for Social Sciences, Humanities, Business, Law, etc.. The interdisciplinary program for Molecular Nano Technology will center on departments including Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Pharmacy Health Sciences, and Engineering. Currently there are 14 research projects in progress here at Pacific.
Review and Discussion of the Next Pacific Rising Draft
The drafting team for Pacific Rising met twice since the last IPC meeting. Brodnick performed the edits and presented the new revised draft to IPC which included an introduction, 6 Core Values as opposed to 8, and an introduction to Commitments, to list a few. At the conclusion of the discussion, Brodnick will again perform edits and send to the Provost who will then distribute to the Board on Wednesday, April 5. The document will be distributed to the community for reaction. Next steps include the generation of specific goal statements.
Next meeting: April 18, 2006, 2-4pm
Meeting adjourned at 4:00