The importance of science in general and nanotechnology in particular is increasing profoundly and rapidly. Nowadays, we are in great need of studying, understanding, and applying this highly effective field of science that is brimming with potential; as well as monitoring its progress and following in the footsteps of its development.


As always, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA) aspires to fulfill its role in spreading knowledge and promoting science among the general public; and with that aim in mind, the BA proudly hosts Professor Mostafa Amr Elsayed; Julius Brown Chair, Regents Professor, and Director of Laser Dynamics Laboratory, USA; on Sunday, 29 March 2009, at 10:00 am, where he will be delivering a lecture on Nanotechnology Science in the Great Hall at the BA Conference Center.


Professor Mostafa Elsayed acquired his B.Sc. from Ein Shams University, Egypt; he then obtained his Ph.D. from Florida State University, USA. Prof. Elsayed was Research Associate at Harvard, Yale and California Institute of Technology. He was honored with numerous prestigious awards in recognition of his outstanding scientific research; such as the ACS Langmuir National Award in Chemical Physics, the ACS Local Section Awards, and the 1990 King Faisal International Prize in Sciences. Prof. Elsayed is an elected member of the US National Academy of Sciences; he is also an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Science (AAAS), and the American Physical Society; and  an associate member of the Third World Academy of Sciences.


Prof. Elsayed’s lecture on Nanotechnology Science will shed light on nanoscience as the synthesis and study of the properties of nanomaterial in different shapes and forms. He will also talk about the properties of nanometer materials, such as ultrafast electron-hole dynamics in semiconductor nanoparticles; the shape control synthesis and stability of metallic nanoparticles; as well as the enhanced absorption and scattering processes, the electronic relaxation and photothermal properties of gold and silver nanocrystals of different shapes. The lecture also touches upon the potential use of nanoparticles in nanomedicine (Diagnostics and Selective Photothermal Therapy of Cancer), nanocatalysis (Shaping Dependent Catalysis), and nanophotonics (Modulating the Optical Properties of Gold and Silver Nanoparticles by their Coherent Lattice Motion).