Second Announcement

International Workshop on Molecular Structure and Dynamics of Interfacial Water

Shanghai Water07
December 14-18, 2007, Shanghai, China
http://www.sinap.ac.cn/Water07

Shanghai Water07 is sponsored and organizedby by Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics (SINAP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, and supported by National natural Science Foundation of China, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Shanghai Nuclear Society.

Water is probably the most important and fascinating material in the world. Its structure, particularly near interfaces and when confined in small spaces is still under intense investigation. Recently there has been a renewed interest on this topic due to great progress in theoretical and experimental tools over the last decade.

Water confined in nanoscale dimensions plays a crucial role in cell and molecular biology, affecting the structure and dynamics of proteins, their function, folding and unfolding, etc. A better understanding of the properties of water at interfaces may offer new solutions to important and practical issues, including environmental problems of atmospheric chemistry, rock erosion, etc. Contamination of drinking water by dissolution of harmful species, etc. aggravates the problem of lack of clean drinking water worldwide, mostly in developing countries. An understanding of the interfacial water properties is the basis of technologies for desalination, purification or waste water recovery.

The workshop provides an excellent opportunity for researchers from different disciplines to review the latest progress on interfacial water, including biological water, and exchange their experience, progress and ideas. The workshop will also discuss how the understanding of the interfacial water contributes to the fresh water industry as well as other water-related modern industries.

Emphasis will be placed on five critical topics:
1. Water monolayers and thin films
2. Confined & interfacial water
3. Micro- and nano-fluidics, Biological water, etc.
4. Theory, simulation and experimental methods
5. Water in the environment

The workshop will be comprised of 4 plenary lectures, 34 invited speakers in several breakout sessions based on these topics. Attendees will have an option to participate in each of the sessions through formal presentations and discussions.

Critical scientific questions for the workshop include:

1. What is the structure and the dynamics of water confined in small dimensions such as in nanopores, solid surfaces, proteins proximity?
2. What structural, morphological, and chemical aspects of a surface determine the hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity?
3. How does water mediate the structure and functions of biomolecules?
4. How can we avoid fouling on surfaces?
5. How is a material or membrane tuned for the efficient separation of ions, transportation of water?
6. How to improve the methods to experimental investigations and numerical simulations?

Several renowned leading scientists will give keynote speeches in the workshop.

Academic Committee:
Chair: Miquel Salmeron, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Co-Chair: Jun Hu, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, CAS, Shanghai
Secretary: Haiping Fang, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, CAS, Shanghai

Important deadlines:
October 15, 2007. Detailed abstract submission
November 1, 2007. Notification of acceptance/rejection