Mark Welland Director, Nanoscience Centre, University of Cambridge

Professor Mark Welland leads the Nanoscale Science Group in the Electrical Engineering Division of Cambridge University Engineering Department. He is a professor of Nanotechnology and director IRC in Nanotechnology- Nanoscience, University of Cambridge and director of the Nanoscience Centre, University of Cambridge. He is also a Fellow of St John’s College.

Mark Welland started his career in nanotechnology at IBM Research Laboratories, Yorktown Heights, USA, where he was part of the team that developed one of the first tunnelling microscopes. Upon moving to Cambridge in 1985 he set up the first tunnelling microscopy group in the UK in collaboration with Prof John Pethica. Currently the Nanoscale Science Laboratory at Cambridge researches into a number of aspects of nanotechnology ranging from sensors for medical applications to understanding and controlling the properties of nanoscale structures and devices. In a recent award by the UK Research Councils Mark has been made Director of an Interdisciplinary Research Collaboration in nanotechnology that, along with a purpose built facility, represents an investment of $28 Million for nanotechnology research at Cambridge. He is currently Editor-in-Chief of the Institute of Physics journal Nanotechnology, established in 1990, and, along with many other contributions at an International level, co-chairs the recently established Co-operative Research Initiative in Nanotechnology (CORINT) between the UK and Japan with Prof Hiroyuki Sakaki of the University of Tokyo. In 2002 his contributions to nanotechnology research were recognised through his election to Fellowships of the Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering.

He has appeared before the British Government’s Science and Technology select committee and has given a seminar to the European Parliament. His list of presentations to the Industrial sector is extensive and includes talks at UK Nanotech 2004 & 2005 in Tokyo.

In addition to his scientific work Mark has been involved in a number of reports dealing with the societal, ethical and environmental issues of nanotechnology and was a member of the Royal Society/Royal Academy of Engineering Nanotechnology Study Working Group that reported to the UK Government in July 2004. He is currently a member of the Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances set up by Defra and advises several international governments and Research Institutions on nanotechnology. He has taken part in many television and radio programmes for the BBC, SKY, Open University and University of the Air, Japan and written articles for the Guardian, FT and The Times.

He is also on the advisory board of Seraphima Ventures - a venture capital firm focusing mainly on nanotechnology startup companies.