Professor Chad Mirkin from Northwestern University in the US is a guest of Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) from 22 to 28 July 2012 as part of the Lee Kuan Yew Distinguished Visitor Programme.
The programme is supported by an endowment fund set up in 1983 on the occasion of the 60th birthday of former Singapore Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. The purpose of the programme is to invite internationally renowned academics to Singapore to make valuable contributions in terms of knowledge and expertise.
Professor Mirkin is the 66th visitor to Singapore under the programme. A well known chemist and nanoscience expert, Professor Mirkin is a member of the US President’s Council of Advisors for Science and Technology and has helped President Barack Obama in formulating policy proposals pertaining to science and technology. He serves as Director of the International Institute for Nanotechnology at Northwestern University and is credited for the innovation of Dip-Pen Nanolithography, development of bio-detection processes based on nanoparticles and other contributions to nanoelectronics, chemistry and nanooptics.
During the course of his stay, Professor Mirkin will meet the senior management and faculty for science and engineering at both NTU and NUS. He is scheduled to deliver a lecture on “Revolutionising the field of medicine through advances in nanotechnology" at NTU on 24 July 2012 and another lecture titled "Nanotechnology: Learning to think big in a field focused on the small" at NUS on 26 July 2012. NTU will honor Dr Mirkin for his outstanding contributions with an honorary degree of Doctor of Engineering (honoris causa) at the University’s convocation ceremony to be held on 25 July 2012.