The third annual International Workshop on Advanced Materials (IWAM 2011) opened in Ras Al Khaimah under the theme `Enabling new technologies through nanomaterials.'

The three-day event hosted by Ras Al Khaimah Centre for Advanced Materials (RAK-CAM), will see top materials scientists undertake indepth discussions on the fundamental science and applications of Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology.

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, inaugurated the workshop at Al Hamra Convention Centre on Sunday.

In his keynote address, Sheikh Saud said, 'Advanced Materials Science research and scientific breakthroughs in Nanotechnology hold tremendous potential to revolutionize the lives of people across the world.'

'The interdisciplinary and rapidly expanding nature of these scientific realms allows them to have an unprecedented impact across a diverse range of fields,' he noted.

IWAM programme includes 27 invited talks by a group of global leaders in Advanced Materials addressing topics dealing with research in areas such as developing clean and renewable forms of energy, nanomedicine for improved diagnostics and therapy, environmental remediation, water purification and conservation.

Prof M Samy El- Shall, RAK-CAM director said, 'The synergism produced by bringing together 125 researchers, students from 22 countries with research interests in diverse areas of advanced materials is set to enhance scientific collaboration which will take this field step closer in realising enormous potential of novel materials and nanotechnologies.”

RAK-CAM is currently providing `Sheikh Saqr Al Qasimi Research Fellowship' to a number of researchers in support of their post doctoral research in leading laboratories in US, UK, India and Thailand, Prof Samy stated.

“The researchers will have the option of continuing their research in RAK once the RAK- CAM laboratories get operational in a year’s time,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service