The National Nanotechnology Initiative

The National Nanotechnology Initiative

The National Nantechnology Initiative (NNI) coordinates nanotechnology R&D efforts and funding across 20 government departments and agencies.  With the support of the NNI, nanotechnology R&D is taking place in academic, government, and industry laboratories across the United States. Come learn about how this unique initiative has created a created a framework for shared goals, priorities, and strategies to advance the impact of nanotechnology.

Michael Meador, Ph.D.,  joined NNCO from NASA, where he managed the Nanotechnology Project in the Game Changing Technology Program, a project involving five NASA centers, industry, and universities working to mature nanotechnologies with high potential for impact on NASA missions.  As chair of NASA’s Nanotechnology Roadmap Team, Dr. Meador was instrumental in developing the NASA-wide Nanotechnology Project, and has been responsible for project planning and advocacy, overseeing technical progress, developing external partnerships to advance and transfer technology, coordinating with other nanotechnology related activities within NASA, and interacting with program and senior agency management. He has also played a key role in representing NASA in the NNI’s interagency activities, including co-chairing its Nanomanufacturing, Industry Liaison, and Innovation Working Group.  During his long career at NASA, Dr. Meador has held a series of positions with increasing responsibility, including over twenty years as Chief of the Polymers Branch of the Materials Division at NASA Glenn Research Center, where he expanded the research portfolio of the branch from research in high-temperature stable polymers and composites for aircraft engines to include work in battery electrolytes, fuel cell membranes, and nonlinear optical and sensor materials.  He also initiated the first nanotechnology program at NASA Glenn.