International Workshop on the
Science and Application of Nanotubes
East Lansing, Michigan, USA, July 24-27, 1999
Feedback from Participants
What Participants LIKED about NT'99:
An NT'99 participant comments:
I really liked the poster format and the panel discussion following it.
Peter Robert Butzloff comments:
1. The workshop format was something new.
I found it quite effective. This was most important to me because it seemed
to maximize everybody's time. I hope others take notice and incorporate this
concept as a part of their future scientific conferences.
2. Questions were always answered with respect and thoughtfulness, even when
others present already might be familiar with the answer. This really is a
quality group of folks!
3. Hey, thanks to the sponsors of the on-site coffee breaks and especially for
the impromptu off-site banquet. Those thoughtful things really did help make
everybody more comfortable.
M. Ahlskog comments:
Poster Plus presentation format.
Navjot Singh comments:
I liked the informal environment and really enjoyed the meeting...
NICE JOB.
Petr Kral comments:
Excelent place to share and get new ideas.
I have never been on better organissed workshop. Thanks.
An NT99 participant comments:
I liked the format: 2 days of informal workshop,
followed by 2 days of more formal conference. The
order is important too, workshop first.
I liked the Poster Plus format.
Gary Tibbetts comments:
You guys did a tremendous job and your conference was an unqualified
success. [...] I had a great time!
Doug Lowndes comments:
Thanks very much for the most enjoyable and informative
workshop/conference. I especially enjoyed the "poster plus" presentations.
Being slightly lenient with the presenters, by allowing them a little extra
time for the oral part, worked very well!
George Skidmore comments:
Posters which were left up for an entire day, or for the second days
posters, longer than one day.
This gave ample time to discuss the poster with the presenter.
Large quantity of high quality invited speakers.
An NT99 participant comments:
The poster plus format.
The idea of having a discussion session after each
poster session, with the presenters on the podium
held responsinble to answer questions.
The talk on ESR spectroscopy of CNT was different from
what we have seen in the CNT literature.
Having some speakers from the industry.
All talks except two were well paced.
An NT99 participant comments:
I liked the manner the poster have been presented and discussed
during the workshop. It gave everyone the time to understand them,
look after them and then discuss. ( important: 10/10)
I like the musical event made by M. Dresselhaus and Iijima! (9/10).
I hope they will continue to practise this together.
The conferences were also very interesting. (9/10)
The "social dinner event" organised was good but it may have been
more fruitfull if we had some bigger tables booked in the restaurant (8/10).
What Participants DISLIKED about NT'99:
David Tomanek comments:
Avoid scheduling collisions with other conferences. NT'99 overlapped
with the Gordon conference on "Nanostructures",
which was a pity.
An NT'99 participant comments:
Weekends!
The major reason for scheduling the weeked is the enormous air fare reduction
for staying over Saturday night. The workshop part was targeted mostly to
participants from academic institutions who are more flexible. The conference
took place during the week. We tried a "Lazy Sunday Morning"
and would appreciate more comments if the time was "too short" or
"too long".
Ph. Lambin comments:
Program was a bit too heavy, especially for those with a jet-lag.
An NT99 participant comments:
Old Country Buffet!
Bulgogi at Charlie Kang's would have been heaven.
An NT99 participant comments:
I really do not know. Even when I am thinking hard to it!
The only think I did not liked too much is the manner journalist
turn what you say in a ridiculous way!
But I know the organisation of this conference has nothing to do with this.
Suggestions WHAT TO DO at a Future Workshop:
An NT'99 participant suggests:
More participation from the industrial sector.
Peter Robert Butzloff suggests:
A certificate of participation should be e-mailed to confirmed
conference attendees. Some people may be required to show proof
of attendance. Those who don't want to collect pretty memorabilia
can delete it.
An NT'99 participant suggests:
Have a little more unscheduled time for chatting.
Ph. Lambin suggests:
Mix invited talks and poster presentations rather then
having them collected on different days.
For instance, 2 invited speakers and a poster
session per half day.
George Skidmore suggests:
Invite many nanotube giants as was done for nt99.
Use poster plus, but I would restrict the oral presentation portion to
ONE content slide.
An NT99 participant suggests:
The poster plus format.
A longer discussion session after each poster session.
Have a small group lead an effort in identifying important
issues and possible applications. This can then be used
to write a conference summary that can be part of the
proceedings.
An NT99 participant suggests:
Surely the same type of workshop (poster presentation and discussion)
because I think it was very fruitfull.
Suggestions WHAT TO AVOID at a Future Workshop:
Peter Robert Butzloff suggests:
In some past conferences, I have immensely disliked having to decide
on which of two or more simultaneous but equally interesting
presentations I must chose to attend.
An NT'99 participant suggests:
Weekends
Ph. Lambin suggests:
Having a thunderstorm the night before the workshop ...
For further information contact:
tomanek@nanoten.com.