Press Invitation: Imperial College Centre for Electronic Materials and Devices Open Day

18 April 1999

PRESS INVITATION

Journalists are invited to attend the first Open Day of Imperial Colleges Centre for Electronic Materials and Devices (CEMD), to be held on the South Kensington campus on Friday 23 April.

The Centre was established in October 1997 and encompasses the research activities in electronic materials and devices which are currently being pursued in various departments of the College.

Recent research highlights of the Centre include advances in light emitting diode performance using quantum dots and resonant cavities; infrared LEDs for gas sensors; micropower devices potentially important for mobile radio applications; micromechanical self assembly techniques leading towards complex systems on a chip; superconducting tape technology; and transistors which can be fabricated on plastic sheets leading towards the elusive electronic newspaper.

World class research is taking place on many fronts including: Molecular Beam Epitaxy of III-V, silicon-silicon/germanium, and organic materials; Optoelectronic devices; III-V and silicon/germanium electronic devices; Growth Techniques for Mesoscopic Devices; Quantum Dots; Photonic Bandgap and Microcavity Engineering; silicon microengineering; infrared devices for sensors; technology for display devices, and the physics and technology of high temperature superconductors. New clean room, growth and processing facilities have been installed which will give added impetus to these programmes which cover innovative science and important opportunities for industry.

Guests from industry, from EPSRC, from collaborating university groups, and a variety of VIPs will also attend the open day.

Outline programme:

10.30 am - Coffee and registration in the foyer of the Blackett Laboratory (See Notes to Editors 1 for address)

11.15 Welcome and Introduction by Professor Gareth Parry on the overall activities of the Centre in Lecture Theatre 1, Blackett Laboratory

To be followed by talks from senior industry figures who will outline the opportunities for innovation in this topical area.

*David Williams, Chief Executive Officer of VG, the world leading manufacturer of molecular beam epitaxy equipment

*Peter Radley, Chief Executive Officer of Alcatel UK, who will talk about the impact of advanced components on the telecommunications industry

Lunch - Including an address by the Rector of Imperial College, Sir Ronald Oxburgh

2.00-3.30 pm - Poster session - Common Room on Level 8 of the Blackett Laboratory. All departments and programme areas will be arranging displays for this session which will demonstrate the breadth and quality of the work in the Centre.

Following this session there will be the opportunity to take individual people for a more detailed visit to laboratories. Please contact Peter Selway in advance if you would like to visit one of the CEMDs laboratories.

Notes for editors:

1. The Blackett Laboratory is at the western end of Prince Consort Road, South Kensington, SW7 2BZ. The nearest tube station is South Kensington, on the District, Circle and Piccadilly lines. An online map can be found at: http://www.sc.ic.ac.uk/Maps/Maps.html

2. The CEMD is a cross-disciplinary, cross-department centre, which aims to exploit the synergy between the diverse activities in the areas of electronic materials and devices at Imperial College.

Further information about the Centre and its activities can be found on its website at http://www.sc.ic.ac.uk/

3. Imperial College had the highest total income of all UK university institutions in 1998 at £309 million. This beats Oxfords £304 million and Cambridges £293 million. (Source: Nobles Higher Education Financial Yearbook). IC also has the largest research income (£180m) and the largest working estate of any university institution in the UK and was rated second overall in the Financial Times Guide to Britain's top 100 universities (Financial Times 1 April 1999).

Further details available from:

Peter Selway, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
Exhibition Road, SW7 2BT
Tel: 0171-594 6175
Email: p.selway@imperial.ac.uk

Gareth Parry
Centre for Electronic Materials and Devices
Tel: 0171-594 6666
Email: g.parry@imperial.ac.uk