Prof. Sir Harold W. Kroto arrives in Hanoi
People's Army Newspaper, 29 January 2013

http://www.qdnd.vn/qdndsite/en-us/75/72/183/161/163/226823/Default.aspx


The professor's visit is facilitated by the Vienna-based International Peace Foundation and the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training.

His activities in Vietnam will officially start on January 30 in Hanoi but on the afternoon of January 29th, he was present at a news briefing held by the organizers to answer questions from local reporters.

According to the organizers, Professor Sir Harold Krotos will deliver a public keynote speech on “Education – the basis for peace and the key to an enlightened global community” on January 30 at 2 pm at the Vietnam National University in Hanoi.

Professor Sir Harold W. Kroto is the fourth Nobel Laureate visiting Vietnam as part of the 4th ASEAN “Bridges” program after Economics Nobel Laureate Prof. Roger B. Myerson’s, Medicine Nobel Laureate Prof. Harald zur Hausen’s and Physics Nobel Laureate Douglas D. Osheroff’s visits to Vietnam in November and December, respectively.

Professor Sir Harold W. Kroto is a 1996 Nobel Laureate for Chemistry and the Francis Eppes Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Florida State University. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for his discovery of the carbon compounds called fullerenes and a new type of the carbon element: Buckminsterfullerene (C60).The discovery of C60 lead to a tremendous shock wave in the scientific field and started a completely new chemical realm, having its influence physics, chemistry, bio-materials and astronomy.

Professor Kroto’s C60 discovery is considered one of the most important cornerstones in the development of nanoscience. Nanoscience and nanotechnology involves the creation, study and application of accurately-constructed, complex molecules with hundreds to thousands of atoms and overall nanoscale dimensions. It is the defining science of the 21st century, and strategic applications of new advances in this area offer the exciting promise of major socio-economic as well as humanitarian benefits.