IMM Prizes in Computational Nanotechnology

2002 IMM Prize Winners Announced

Donate to the Prize program

IMM offers four prizes in computational nanotechnology annually:

DESIGN: a new design of a molecular machine system or component part

ANALYSIS: a new analysis of an existing molecular machine system or component part design, operating within its design parameters

RENDERING: a new rendering (static illustration) enabling better visualization of an existing molecular machine system or component part design

SIMULATION: a new active simulation (animation) enabling better visualization over time of a molecular machine system or component part design's movement, operating within its design parameters

JUDGING CRITERIA

DESIGN:
Magnitude of the implications resulting from the system (usefulness)
Degree of adherence to physical laws (scientific merit)
Degree of engineering merit
Originality

ANALYSIS:
An entry need not combine all these analyses, but the more the better:
Static (stress/strain)
Dynamic, including thermal envelope
Quantum/electronic, particularly for devices with electronic function
Quantum/chemical, especially for devices which make or break bonds

Parameters analyzed might include:
Operational envelope determination
Efficiency/dissipation losses
Reliability

Analyses judged on:
Correctness
Clarity of exposition
Usefulness

RENDERING:
Originality of rendering
General aesthetics
Degree of improvement over previous depictions (allowing for better understanding of form or function)

SIMULATION:
Simulations will be subject to a combination of the criteria for Analysis and Rendering, above.

How to donate to the IMM Prizes in Computational Nanotechnology:

• Phone 650-917-1120 with Visa/Mastercard info
• Fax 650 917 1123 with same
• Email admin@imm.org with same (not secure)
• Mail info or check to Institute for Molecular Manufacturing, 123 Fremont Ave., Los Altos, CA 94022 USA
• Use your VISA or MasterCard to donate on our secure server.

These prizes apply only to designed parts and systems, i.e. those not already found in nature.

A prize of each category will be chosen prior to and awarded in person, at the annual Feynman Prize presentation ceremony at the Foresight Conference on Molecular Nanotechnology. The four winning projects per year are automatically nominated for the next Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology (Theoretical).

The goal of this program is rapid advance and iteration, so the IMM Prizes do not require journal publication. Incremental improvements to prior designs, including those originally produced by others, are explicitly encouraged.

Entrants: The work must be posted on the web at least one month prior to judging, and an item submitted to Nanodot with the URL and text describing the work briefly. Notification of the posting must also be sent to admin@imm.org to insure that we are alerted of your submission. This enables one full month of online critical discussion and review prior to judging.

Donors: You may contribute money to either the general pool for all four Prizes, or target your donation to a specific Prize. The deadline for donating to a winning Prize is one month after the announcement of the decision, enabling donors to target their donations to work they particularly admire. New donors who are not yet IMM/Foresight Senior Associates will need to join prior to making a Prize donation. At least 80% of funds donated to the Prizes are remitted to winners as cash.

No awards were made for 2003. IMM intends to offer the IMM Prizes in Computational Nanotechnology again for 2004.
Approximate Deadlines for 2004— exact deadlines will be posted later.

IMM reserves the right to make no award if, in its opinion, all submissions received need more work. In that event, any funds targeted to a specific Prize are rolled over to the next prize awarded in that category.

Special consideration will be given for analysis or designs that contribute to system security or component mechanisms designed specifically to prevent abuse (refer to Guidelines on Molecular Nanotechnology for several specific mechanisms). This consideration may not come up in the early days of the Prizes, but is expected to be increasingly important as designs advance.

Copyright and other rights in the work remain with the researcher or his/her organization. Entrants agree to grant IMM permission to publish the work on our website, in paper publications, and other IMM materials, and to allow IMM to re-grant these rights (e.g. to media).

Eligibility: IMM directors, advisors, researchers and staff are not eligible.