Development of a Virtual Laboratory for Nanoscience Experiments Using High-Speed Academic Network Technology

Abstract

The main objectives of knowledge society are generating, sharing and making available to society knowledge that may be used to increases life quality on Earth. In order to share knowledge worldwide, it is important to guarantee an efficient connection for the scientific community, making collaborative spaces an essential tool. The emerging nanoscience and nanotechnology fields allow scientists and researchers to study different phenomena at a molecular scale. The development of novel microscopes such as SEM, TEM, AFM and spectroscopes such as NMR has foster multidisciplinary research groups where physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, and other careers converge to face questions to be solved from several points of view. In this study, smart virtual knowledge spaces, accessible through the worldwide web through high-speed networks and Grid environments will be discussed. A case study where AFM is used to study cell membranes will be shown as an example of a virtual laboratory.