News & Comment

In recent years, South Africa has, like other countries, increased investment in nanotechnology research, which in turn has had an effect on the curricula of its higher-education institutions. However, the focus of these changes, and the approach taken to achieve them, are unique to the circumstances of the country.

Mentoring undergraduates in a research laboratory requires a different set of skills and approaches than for other lab members. However, if a mentor — be it a faculty member, postdoc or graduate student — can adopt these methods, it can lead to a significantly improved lab experience for everyone involved.

In recent years, education in nanotechnology has evolved to reflect the new skill set required to perform multidisciplinary research. As the field further develops, it will need to evolve again.

Eight students from across the world discuss their own nanoscience education.

Research data comes in various forms and levels of significance. Finding the best way to share all of the results of a research project can be difficult, but new ways are constantly emerging.

Nanotechnology researchers have recently been targeted by armed eco-terrorists. Chris Toumey examines the motivation of these attackers.

Negative and null results are routinely produced across all scientific disciplines, but rarely get reported. The key to combat the biases arising from this mismatch lies in disseminating all details about a work, rather than just positive results.

Progress in the field of organic spintronics has, to a degree, stagnated, but what can the community do about it?