The prestigious NanoDay event, organized by the Bilkent University National Nanotechnology Research Center (UNAM), once again brought together prominent international scientists, researchers, students, and industry representatives from across Turkey and around the world. This year’s event, held on Friday, May 23, 2025, welcomed nearly 300 participants.
Now in its 11th edition, NanoDay 2025 featured distinguished speakers including Prof. Philip Russell from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, recognized for his pioneering work in photonic crystals and optical fiber technologies, and Prof. Hans Hilgenkamp from the University of Twente’s MESA+ Institute, who presented his research on superconductivity and quantum devices as well as energy-efficient neuromorphic computing.
NanoDay 2024 kicked off with an opening speech by Prof. Dr. Hilmi Volkan Demir, the Director of UNAM and the Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology (MSN). In his welcoming remarks, Prof. Demir outlined UNAM’s vision “to leave a mark”—both today and in the future—and emphasized the center’s commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, curiosity-driven innovation, and the empowerment of young scientists, technology leaders, and deep-tech entrepreneurs. He also highlighted that over 2,150 articles in total have been published in SCI-indexed journals, with more than 390 featured in prestigious Nature Index journals—underscoring the center’s global academic impact. Following this, Bilkent University Rector Prof. Dr. Kürşat Aydoğan emphasized the importance of the event and provided inspiration to participating professionals and students. Prof. Aydoğan described UNAM as “a pinnacle of excellence in research” not only in Turkey but also globally, noting that NanoDay reflects UNAM’s vibrant scientific ecosystem—bringing together groundbreaking research, emerging talents, and international collaborations under one roof.
In the first session, Prof. Philip Russell delivered a talk titled “Three Decades Riding the Photonic Crystal Fibre Wave,” where he shared insights and experiences from his career. The program continued with Prof. Hans Hilgenkamp’s presentation, “Exploring the Richness of Materials Physics for Novel Information Technologies.” The afternoon featured the UNAMTalks session, where a panel titled “Shaping the Future of Science: Leadership, Innovation, and the Role of Research Centers” brought together distinguished speakers to share their visions for the future of scientific discovery. The day concluded with UNAM’s “Open House,” where participants were offered guided tours of the center’s laboratories and advanced research facilities.
The program also showcased captivating poster presentations by MSN students. As a part of the event, the winners of the NanoArt competition were announced and honored in order to promote the appreciation and excitement of images from diverse disciplines that were captured at the nanometer scale through the innovative use of imaging methods and technologies.
