"Nanotechnology" has grown to mean technology small than current "microtechnology," or dealing with components with nanoscale features. This area promises to produce incredibly advanced machines and computing tools, but is also a very risky area due to the small scale. This physical and chemical phenomena at the nanometer scale is one of the issues our faculty deal with in the laboratory. Furthermore, stages in the design process are looked at: nanofabrication and nanoscale processing, nanostructured hybrid organic/inorganic materials modeling/simulation. The relationship between fundamental interactions and macroscopic behavior is another issue our engineers deal with.

The efforts of nanotechnology also reach towards biological applications, also known as nanobiotechnology. New applications for biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences are being discovered. The increase in nanotechnology efforts leads to the production of new materials, along with advancements in polymer applications, sensors, and homeland security.

Commercial applications of nanotechnology include molecular electronics and nanoelectronics, energy applications, and computational nanoscience. Theoretical advances are merging with practical advances, forming new ideas and innovations.

The growing field of nanotechnology promises to revolutionize everyday life. The small scale being dealt with present many challenges for today's scientists and engineers.