Science and Engineering Council of Santa Barbara
June Luncheon
at
The Elephant Bar Restaurant
Thursday, June 10, 2004 12:00-1:30 PM

The Bio-Nano Interface:
Nanofabricating Semiconductors Using Biotechnology

By imitating proteins found in nature, researchers are developing new ways to synthesize metal oxide semiconductors. Nature provides remarkable nanostructural control over the creation of 3D structures. Sponges and diatoms create silicon-based materials at low temperatures with precision that exceeds current human capabilities.

Dr. Morse will talk about how such biological processes are being harnessed for use in industrial and technological processes. His lab has discovered a category of proteins that catalyze and direct the polymerization of silica. These proteins also direct the formation of precursors of titanium dioxide, gallium oxide, ruthenium oxide, cobalt oxide, and zinc oxide. They have created "biomimetic" self-assembling molecules that have the same capabilities as these natural proteins.

Dr. Morse will also describe how the Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies at UCSB interfaces with industrial partners and facilitates access to Federal funds to accelerate the commercialization of discoveries made in university laboratories.

------PRESENTER------

Daniel E. Morse, PhD
Director, Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies

Dr. Daniel E. Morse is the Director of the Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies and professor of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry at UCSB. He is the developer of "silicon biotechnology," and his research focuses on the interface between molecular biology, biotechnology and materials science.

Dr. Morse received his B.A. in Biochemistry from Harvard and his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He conducted postdoctoral studies at Stanford University, and was an associate professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at Harvard Medical School before joining the faculty at UCSB.

------OTHER INFO------

$12 for SEC members; $15 for non-members.
Information: Barbara Keaney (E-mail: scieng@silcom.com or call 805-684-4927).
Reservations NOT required.
Elephant Bar Restaurant: 521 Firestone Road.
Website: http://www.scieng.org

From the Co-Presidents: Thanks to all of you who attended our May program with presentations from the winners of the 49th Annual Santa Barbara Science Fair. Several students and parents were in attendance and the presentations were excellent. This month's program provides an outstanding opportunity to meet a true science and technology pioneer from our community. Please join us in June for Dr. Morse's presentation. Be sure to mark your calendar.

Tim Murphy