Understanding Nanotechnology and Nanoscience for National Development

The emergence of nanoscience and nanotechnology has opened a myriad possibilities to revolutionize a wide range of fields ranging from cosmetics to space technologies; there are also important contributionsto diagnostics and therapeutic practices, especially for treating cancer. Nanoscience is also making a difference in many areas of engineering and technology, such as energy environmental pollution control, textile, automobile and electronics. Nanoscience and nanotechnology combine the essence of knowledge in many fields of science and are truly interdisciplinary. There is little doubt that the next generation of citizens will be the beneficiaries of the applications of nanoscience and nanotechnology in their daily life. It is, therefore, vital to have adequate awareness of this important field, irrespective of the specialization or profession that one may choose. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2013.v2n13p10