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C O D A T A

CODATA/VAMAS Joint Working Group on the Description of Nanomaterials

This international working group includes representatives from virtually every scientific and technical discipline involved in the development and use of nanomaterials, including physics, chemistry, materials science, pharmacology, toxicology, medicine, ecology, environmental science, nutrition, food science, crystallography, engineering, and more. Many international scientific unions actively participate.

Nanomaterials are complex, and researchers continue to develop new and innovative materials. Describing nanomaterials is a challenge for all user communities, but a description system is necessary to ensure that everyone knows exactly which nanomaterial is being discussed.

CODATA and VAMAS, an international pre-standardization organization concerned with materials test methods (www.vamas.org), have set up a joint working group to help develop a uniform description system for nanomaterials.

Approach

The Working Group (WG) was established following a 2012 workshop held in Paris co-sponsored by CODATA and the International Council for Science (ICSU www.icsu.org). Following its work plan, the WG first performed a survey of requirements for a description system. Over 40 responses were received that provided important insights into potential uses for a Uniform Description System for Nanomaterials (UDSnano). CODATA and VAMAS are working closely with standards development organizations (SDOs) concerned with nanotechnology, such as ISO TC220, IEC TC 113, and ASTM E56.

The Framework

The first step in developing a UDSnano has been to establish a Framework that defines the major type of information required to describe a nanomaterial uniquely and accurately. That initial Framework was reviewed by the Working Group at a second workshop was held in Paris in May 2013. The revised Framework is now available. Comments are welcomed.

Next Steps

The Framework has defined critical categories of information that are used to describe nanomaterials. Many categories, such as crystallography and chemical structure, have groups already dedicated to developing a detailed list of descriptors. Other categories, such as surface characterization and topology, need to be worked on by appropriate groups of experts. In addition, different disciplines will need to ensure that their specialized needs are being met.

To address these and related issues, the CODATA/VAMAS Working Group will be sponsoring three international conferences, one each in Europe, Asia and North America. The first conference is tentatively scheduled to be held in Dublin during the last week of June 2014. The workshop will feature three major themes: Input from government agencies and SDOs; Input from different disciplines; Input from the nanoinformatics community. Contributed presentations are encouraged.

Working Group Documents

- Project Description
- Work Plan: Next Steps
- Framework for a Uniform Description System for Materials on the Nanoscale

For further information, contact udsnano@udsnano.org

John Rumble,Working Group Chair - rumble@udsnano.org
Steve Freiman, VAMAS Chair - freiman@udsnano.org
Clayton Teague, Technical Chair- Teague@udsnano.org

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