Yaakov (Kobi) Benenson - new TPC member

We are pleased to announce another TPC member, Yaakov (Kobi) Benenson from Harvard. He has a Ph.D. from the Departments of Computer Science & Applied Mathematics and Biological Chemistry of the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel. He is involved in the Laboratory for Molecular Automata and the FAS Center for Systems Biology at Harvard University. He is currently the Principal Investigator for a grant titled: "Synthetic implementation of biological control modules" and participates as a program committee member in several conferences including the International Meeting on DNA-Based Computers and the
International Conference on Computational Intelligence, Robotics and Autonomous Systems.

Radisson Hotel Boston - Conference Hotel Chosen

We are pleased to announce that the conference hotel has been finalized. The location for the conference will be at the Radisson Hotel Boston, in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Radisson Hotel Boston, located in the cultural heart of downtown Boston, is within walking distance of theaters, shopping and many well-known Boston attractions. Guests at the Hotel Boston enjoy easy access to Quincy Market, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Public Garden, Boston Tea Party Ship & Museum and many prime Boston points of interest. The hotel adjoins Little Italy, Chinatown, and the Freedom Trail. There is also a shuttle from the hotel to the Boston airport.

The hotel is a 100% smoke-free facility, and offers the kind of warm hospitality, inviting atmosphere and premier services sure to please business and leisure travelers alike.

The Radisson Hotel Boston offers 356 spacious and comfortable guest rooms. Large work desk, in-room safes and complimentary High-Speed Internet Access in all guest rooms. Each room has a private balcony with inspiring view of downtown Boston.

To ensure you receive the discounted room rates at Radisson Hotel Boston, please book your hotel room by phone at either the phone numbers listed below:

Radisson Worldwide: (800) 333-3333
Reservations/Hotel Line: (617) 482-1800

These rates are guaranteed until August 22, 2008. Make sure you indicate you are from the "Nano-Nets 2008 Group" to receive the discount conference rate of $249 a night for a single/double room. Individuals responsible for making their own reservations will be asked to guarantee for late arrival with a major credit card. Should the individual “not show” or cancel by 4:00 PM one day prior to arrival, the individual’s credit card will be charged, or any deposit will be applied for the first night’s room revenue. Participants are responsible for hotel room charges, tax, and incidental charges.

Conference Hotel Website: http://www.radisson.com/bostonma

Sylvain Martel - Keynote Abstract

Sylvain Martel's Keynote abstract is now available here and at: http://www.nanonets.org/keynote.shtml.

Keynote Title:
"Towards Intelligent Bacterial Nanorobots Capable of Communicating with the Macro-World"

Keynote Abstract:
The field of nanorobotics defines nanorobots from large robotic platforms capable of nanometer-scale operations to robots with overall dimensions in the nanometer-scale. But because of actual technological constraints, the definition of nanorobots often includes untethered robots with overall dimensions in the micrometer-scale that depend on the integration of nanometer-scale components for the execution of specific tasks. An example is the intracellular magnetite nanoparticles assembled in a chain-like structure and termed magnetosomes embedded in magnetotactic bacteria (MTB).

As demonstrated by our group, this structure allows accurate directional control of these flagellated bacteria by an external computer by exploiting magnetotaxis where a directional torque is induced from local magnetic fields generated with relatively small electrical currents. By controlling a swarm of MC-1 cells, each providing through a pair of flagellated nanomotors thrust forces exceeding 4pN, it becomes possible in an aqueous medium to provide directional control and propulsion to relatively large micro-components and in particular microelectronic integrated circuits (IC) that can provide a level of intelligence to micrometer-scale aqueous robots.

In this talk, we show that it is possible with actual available technologies to implement an intelligent untethered system or robot with overall dimensions of only a few hundreds micrometers capable of communicating to an external computer its directional propulsion requirements based on sensory information collected by the robot itself in order to find a specific target. The talk will not only show examples of computer-controlled bacterial actuation and how it can be exploited to minimize electrical energy requirement for the implementation of smaller untethered robots, but the basic architecture of such intelligent robot will be presented with emphasis on engineering challenges at such a scale.

Among several topics, the talk will propose a new communication paradigm between such nanorobots and external computers, bypassing power and miniaturization limitations of the more traditional communication techniques when implemented at such a scale. Then the presentation will conclude on the possibility of implementing swarms of these intelligent bacterial robots to accomplish more advanced tasks through networked interactions and other techniques including swarm intelligence.

The abstract for Tatsuya Suda's keynote will be coming soon!

~Damira (Nano-Net 2008 Webmaster)

Sylvain Martel - New Keynote Speaker

We are pleased to announce that Sylvain Martel will be joining Tatsuya Suda as a main keynote speaker for the Nano-Net 2008 Conference.

SYLVAIN MARTEL received a Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from McGill University, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Montréal, Canada, in 1997. Following postdoctoral studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), he was appointed Research Scientist at the BioInstrumentation Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering at MIT. From Feb. 2001 to Sept. 2004, he had dual appointments at MIT and as Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at École Polytechnique de Montréal (EPM), Campus of the University of Montréal, Montréal, Canada. He is currently Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Engineering and the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, and Director of the NanoRobotics Laboratory at EPM that he founded in 2002.Dr. Martel holds the Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Micro/Nanosystem Development, Fabrication and Validation since 2001. He has over 120 refereed publications, several patents, gives several invited presentations annually, and he is an active member in many international committees and organizations worldwide. Dr. Martel’s main expertise is in the field of nanorobotics, micro- and nano-systems, and the development of novel instrumented platforms and a variety of related support technologies targeted mainly for biomedical and bioengineering applications, and nanotechnology. He has a vast experience in electronics, computer engineering, and also worked extensively in biomedical and mechanical engineering.

Presently, Dr. Martel leads a multidisciplinary team involved in research and development of new instrumented platforms mainly for the medical field and in bioengineering, such as 1) development of nano-factories based on a fleet of scientific instruments configured as autonomous miniature robots capable of high throughput screening in biotechnology and autonomous operations at the molecular scale, 2) developmenet of minimally invasive tools based on microdevices propelled in the blood vessels by magnetic gradients generated by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems for tumor targeting and other applications, 3) development of biosensors designed to be navigated through the blood vessels that could potentially be targeted at the brain for non-invasive recording and imaging of brain activities with high spatial resolution, and 4)development of various microsystems using and integrating magnetotactic bacteria as computer controlled functional components for various applications including but not limited to the fast detection of pathogenic bacteria and as bio-carriers for drug delivery in cancer therapy.

~Damira (Nano-Net Webmaster)

Wei Wang - New TPC Member

We are pleased to annouce our new Technical Program Committee member, Wei Wang from the University at Albany, State University of New York College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering. He received his PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada in 2002 and is currently an Assistant Professor.

His research interests include modeling and simulation of nanoscale devices and interconnects, CMOS-nano hybrid circuits, 3D IC, FPGA and ASIC design, and computer arithmetic and cryptography. Dr. Wang has over 90 journal and conference publications and two US patents. He is an editor of Journal of Computer Science and Technology and Journal of Computers and was a Section Chair of IWSOC04 and SPND 2004 conferences and also served at the technical committee of IEEE IWSOC 04, Great Lake VLSI 2005, 2007, ISCAS 2007, 2008 and NanoArch 2008 conferences.

Dr. Wang is also a member of IEEE. He is a technical committee (TC) member of IEEE Nano and Giga TC and IEEE VLSI System Design TC. He served as a panelist for NSF NIRT program. He was the executive committee member of IEEE Central Indiana Section and helped organize IEEE Indiana Workshop in June 2006.

~Damira (Nano-Net Webmaster)

Tatsuya Suda - Keynote Speaker

We are pleased to announce that Tatsuya Suda from UC Irvine and NTT DoCoMo, Inc. (who is also a member of the Nano-Net Organizing Committee) has agreed to present one of the keynote addresses for the conference this year.

TATSUYA SUDA received the B.E., M.E., and Dr.E. degrees in applied mathematics and physics from Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan, in 1977, 1979, and 1982, respectively. From 1982 to 1984, he was with the Department of Computer Science, Columbia University, New York, as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. Since 1984, he has been with the Department of Information and Computer Science, University of California, Irvine, where he is currently a Professor. He has also served as a program director of the Networking Research Program at the National Science Foundation from Oct. '96 through Jan., '99. He received an IBM postdoctoral fellowship in 1983. He was the Conference Coordinator from 1989 to 1991, the Secretary and Treasurer from 1991 to 1993, the Vice Chairman from 1993 to 1995, and the Chairman from 1995 to 1997 of the IEEE Technical Committee on Computer Communications.

He was also the director of the U.S. Society Relations of the IEEE Communications Society from 1997 to 1999. He is an editor of the IEEE/ACM Transaction on Networking, a senior technical consultant to the IEEE Transaction on Communications, a former Editor of the IEEE Transaction on Communications and is an Area Editor of the International Journal of Computer and Software Engineering. He is a member of the Editorial Board of the Encyclopedia of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Wiley and Sons. He was the Chair of the 8th IEEE Workshop on Computer Communications and the TPC co-chair of the IEEE Infocom 97. He was a visiting associate professor at the University of California, San Diego, a Hitachi Professor at the Osaka University and currently is a NTT Research Professor.

He has been engaged in research in the fields of computer communications and networks, high speed networks, multimedia systems, ubiquitous networks, distributed systems, object oriented communication systems, network applications, performance modeling and evaluation, and application of biological concepts to networks and network applications. Dr. Suda is a fellow of IEEE and a member of ACM.

Stay tuned for a release of the title and abstract for his talk.

~Damira (Nano-Net Webmaster)

Ralph Droms - New TPC Member

We would like to welcome the newest Technical Program Committee member to Nano-Net 2008 - Ralph Droms from Cisco Systems, Inc. Ralph Droms received his Ph.D. from Purdue University in 1986. Three years later, he organized the Dynamic Host Configuration Working Group (DHCWG) with Phil Gross and has chaired the working group since its inception. Also he serves as editor of the DHCP RFCs. He is a key contributor to the design, development, and evolution of DHCP.

Since joining Cisco in 2000, Ralph has continued his work on DHCP and network management. Previously, he was a member of the Computer Science Department faculty at Bucknell University, where he guided students through the study of TCP/IP internetworking, operating systems, and computer architecture. Ralph has also been a member of the computer science faculty at Pennsylvania State University, and he was on the research staff at IBM and Burroughs (now Unisys).

As a consultant in network architecture and infrastructure design, Ralph has worked with large and small companies on a variety of TCP/IP issues, including network architecture, server strategies and configurations, and the use of DHCP, DNS, and other technologies in network management. Ralph served as co-director of the computer center at Bucknell, where he supervised the design and implementation of the campuswide multiprotocol network.

Look for more updates on Nano-Net next Monday!

~Damira (Nano-Net Webmaster)

Announcing Call for Papers (CFP)

The Nano-Net Organizing Committee is proud to announce the finalized Call for Papers (CFP) for the Nano-Net Conference to be held this Sept. 15-17, 2008 in Boston, MA.

Download : [Word Document] [Text Document]

***************** Nano-Net 2008 ******************

CALL FOR PAPERS
3rd International Conference on Nano-Networks
Boston, USA, Sept 15-17, 2008
http://www.nanonets.org/
Sponsors: Create-Net, ICST, EU (IST-FET), ENIAC
Industry Sponsor: STMicroelectronics

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For RSS feed on conference updates, register: http://nano-net.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default
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IMPORTANT DATES

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Workshop Proposals: May 2, 2008

Paper Submissions: May 15, 2008

Acceptance Notification: June 30, 2008

Camera-Ready Version: July 31, 2008

Nano-Net Conference: Sept. 15-17, 2008

SCOPE: The Nano-Net conference positions itself at the intersection of two worlds, namely, emerging nanotechnologies on one-side, and network/communication theory on the other side. The standing question that this conference will address is: What are the new communication paradigms that derive from the transition from micro- to nano-scale devices? The related degrees of freedom and constraints associated with these new technologies will change our notions about efficient network and system design. Nano-Net provides a multidisciplinary forum for the discussion of new techniques in modeling, design, simulation, and fabrication of network and communication systems at the nano-scale.

PAPERS: The conference invites original technical papers that have not been previously published and are not currently under review for publication elsewhere. Contributions addressing all subjects pertaining to nanotechnology & networking are solicited. Suggested topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

* Applications for Nano-Networks
Wireless nanoscale transmitters and receivers, nano-sensors and actuators, nanorobotics, medical and in-vivo imaging and sensing, lab on a chip, swarm micro and nano-inspection, embedding sensing, etc...

* Modeling, Simulation, Standards and Architectural Aspects of Nano-Networks
Physical characterization/modeling of nano-scale interconnects and devices, Fault-tolerant and reliability of nano-devices, Self-healing properties of nano-networks, CAD flows for NoCs and MP-SoC platforms, NoC performance and trade-off analysis, Energy efficiency, Bio-inspired aspects

* Novel Information and Graph Theory Aspects of Nano-Networks
Network architectures and topologies, Statistical mechanics approach to nano-communications, Routing/addressing issues in nano-networks, Nano-coding, Applications of complex network theory, Self-organization in nano-scale systems, Modeling of Nano/Bio Communication Channels

* Device Physics and Interconnects
Nano-technologies and devices for on-chip interconnects (CNTs, graphene nano-ribbons, semic., metallic and DNA-templated nanowires), Molecular, optical and wireless interconnects, Interconnects for non-charge-based devices, emerging 3D-interconnect technologies

* Nano-Robotics
Communication systems and networking protocols for sub-inch robotic systems, including low-bandwidth coordination schemes for nano-robot teams and range and bearing devices for inter-robot relative positioning

* Bio-nano Applications
Bio-Micro/Nanoelectronics, Molecular scale chemical and biosensors, Bio-MEMS technology, Data and power management, Nano-scale and molecular communications and information processing, Information theory analysis of biological communications, Molecular Computation using molecular cells, Chemical computing

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Prospective authors are encouraged to submit a PDF version of the full paper in English. Papers are limited to 5 two-column pages, in a font no smaller than 10-points. Style guides and further information are available on the conference website: http://www.nanonets.org. Presentation will be either oral or in poster format, as deemed appropriate by the Technical Program Committee.

PUBLICATION: All submitted papers will be subject to a rigorous peer-review. Accepted papers will be published by Springer in the Nano-Net Conference Proceedings, and made available online through Springer Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNICST). Selected high-quality papers with a strong nanoscale device component will be reviewed for a Special Issue of the IEEE Transactions on Nanotechnology, in an extended version.

WORKSHOP & TUTORIAL PROPOSALS: Proposals for Special Sessions and Tutorials are encouraged. Potential Workshop and Tutorial organizers should submit a proposal of at most 5 pages, including scope/motivation of the session/tutorial, list of invited papers (still subject to peer-review) and short-bio of the organizer(s). Workshops should be submitted by e-mail to: goel@albany.edu, tutorials to: liyun@research.ge.com.

Program Chairs
==============
GENERAL CHAIR
Stephen F Bush
bushsf@research.ge.com
General Electric, USA

TECHNICAL PROGRAM CHAIR
Alexandre Schmid
EPFL, Switzerland

TECHNICAL PROGRAM CO-CHAIRS
Alexander Sergienko
Boston University, USA

Kaustav Banerjee
UCSB, USA

Radu Marculescu
CMU, USA

Sumit Roy
U Washington, USA

Nikolaus Correll
MIT, USA

Tatsuya Suda
UC Irvine, USA

Sasitharan Balasubramaniam
TSSG, Ireland

STEERING COMMITTEE
Imrich Chlamtac (Chair)
Create-Net, Italy

Gian Mario Maggio
Create-Net, Italy

WORKSHOP CHAIR
Sanjay Goel
UAlbany, USA

TUTORIAL CHAIR
Yun Li
General Electric, USA

STANDARDS CHAIR
Dan Gamota Motorola, USA

PUBLICATIONS CHAIR
Maggie Cheng
Missouri S&T, USA

FINANCE CHAIR
Karen Decker
ICST, Hungary

WEBMASTER
Damira Pon
UAlbany, USA

CONFERENCE COORDINATOR
Dorothy Bany
ICST, Hungary