Dave Blank receives royal honour at the opening of the MESA+ NanoLab
Amid great interest, Prince Willem-Alexander opened the MESA+ NanoLab at the University of Twente on Friday 5 November. For Dave Blank, the MESA+ NanoLab's scientific director, it was an extra special day as he received a royal honour for his work. Within FOM, Dave Blank is active as chairman of the Nano Work Community Committee.
iPad
Prince Willem Alexander opened the lab by entering the text "I hereby open the MESA+ NanoLab" on an iPad. This text was then transmitted to the NanoLab's new cleanroom, a research area where stringent limitations are placed on temperature, humidity, dust and vibration. Here, the line of text was written on a strand of Dave Blank's hair using special equipment. Spectators could follow the entire process on a large screen with a live connection to the cleanroom.
Knighthood
To top it off, Enschede Mayor Peter den Oudsten had another surprise in store for Dave Blank. Immediately after the crown prince's departure, according to royal family protocol, the Mayor called Dave Blank forward to decorate him with a knighthood in the Order of the Dutch Lion. Den Oudsten praised Blank for his considerable service to science and its popularisation, but also for his many social efforts in Twente, such as the arts in Enschede. A worthy closing to a festive day!
Dave Blank and FOM
Dave Blank, who does research on the growth, structure and properties of complex materials, is active in FOM as Chairman of the Nano Working Community Committee, amongst other things. In 2008, he also played an important instigating role in the creation of the Strategic Research Agenda for the Dutch Nano Initiative (NNI, which comprises FOM, STW and Nanoned). He was also chairman of the steering committee for High Tech Systems and Materials which, in 2009, drew up a successful 300 million euro FES proposal in the field of nanotechnology.
For further information please contact:
University of Twente: Wiebe van der Veen +31 53 489 4244
FOM: Isabel Poyck +31 30 600 1221