The international conference NanoBalkan 2023 opened today, with 115 lecturers participating, including 20 from Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia.

This new high-level scientific meeting aims to present a wide range of current research in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, along with related policies and initiatives like NanoAlb.

What sets NB2023 apart is not only its rich tradition but also its ambition to provide a dynamic and interactive platform, much like its successful predecessors.

The conference aims to serve as a nexus for researchers and industry professionals, facilitating the exchange of ideas and fostering transformative collaborations.

NanoBalkan 2023 is organized by the Phantom Foundation (Phantoms Foundation) from Spain and the NanoAlb Research Center at the Academy of Sciences of Albania. Moreover, the University of Tirana plays a key role in supporting this conference through the SUSNANO project.

An added value of NB2023 is the participation of well-known personalities from the world of science.

The Nobel laureate, Prof. Kostya Novoselov from NUS Singapore, is joined by current prominent figures in science, including Prof. Joseph Wang from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), USA, who has received numerous international awards. Additionally, a constellation of accomplished researchers is ready to contribute to this event with their insights and statements.

Academician Skënder Gjinushi welcomed the members of the Assembly and, in accordance with the agenda, provided information about the support for the Presidency’s decision no. 19 dated March 24, 2022, regarding the recognition ‘Honour of the Academy.’ He also outlined the criteria and procedures for its award, as specified in article 12, point 1 of the Statute of the Academy of Sciences and article 12, point 5 of Annex II for the election of an honorary member of the Academy of Sciences of Albania. During this presentation, he introduced the candidacy and academic profile of Professor Joseph Wang.

During NanoBalkan 2023, Professor Joseph Wang was presented with the honorary member diploma of the Academy of Sciences of Albania by the President of the Academy of Sciences of Albania, Academician Skender Gjinushi. The motivation for this honor is as follows:

For his outstanding contributions as a pioneer in research and successful applications in cutting-edge fields such as nanoscience and nanotechnology, significantly enhancing the global impact of these disciplines. Professor Wang has been a driving force behind the establishment of analytical nanotechnology in our country, greatly elevating the reputation and achievements of the ‘Nano-Alb’ unit on the international stage. His influence extends to the establishment of university and research disciplines in electrochemistry and nanotechnology of sensors in Albania and Kosovo. He is highly regarded as a friend and colleague by Albanian researchers in the fields of electrochemical analysis and nanotechnology, and he played a key role in the preparation and quality development of the third Nanoscience Congress held in Tirana, widely known as the ‘Nano-Balkan-2023 Congress.

Professor Joseph Wang is an internationally recognized figure highly esteemed in various disciplines, including analytical chemistry, electrochemistry, biomedical engineering, nanorobotics, nanoscience of micromotors, microsensors, and other related fields.

Joseph Wang is a member of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States, an inventor cited by colleagues worldwide in over 160,000 instances. He holds the highest referential index as a researcher, surpassing 200. In 2021, he was ranked as the number one scientist in the field of analytical chemistry among more than 35 nominees. He’s also recognized as one of the most cited researchers globally in the discipline of chemical engineering. His contributions have led him to be ranked 17th in the world in the field of chemistry and 27th in the field of material sciences. He has consistently ranked at the top of the list of the most esteemed applicants since 2014 and has received dozens of recognitions, awards, prizes, and honorary memberships in over 20 countries.

Professor Joseph Wang expressed his gratitude for being included as an honorary member of the Academy of Sciences of Albania. He noted, “For more than four decades, I have been involved in scientific research in nanotechnology and robotics in the field of health. It is a special pleasure to contribute to these fields and collaborate with Albanian academics.”

Furthermore, Nobel laureate Sir Konstantin ‘Kostya’ Novoselov has been presented with a certificate of appreciation for his valuable contribution to the organization of the NanoBalkan 2023 international conference.

In this regard, Academician Gjinushi expressed special gratitude to Professor Novoselov for his significant involvement in the organization of the NanoBalkan 2023 international conference.

Professor Novoselov expressed his gratitude to the Academy of Sciences of Albania for the recognition of his academic contributions. He added, “It is my first visit to Albania, and I have full confidence that Albania, located in the heart of Europe, will effectively leverage the latest advancements in science.”

Professor Sir Konstantin ‘Kostya’ Novoselov, a Fellow of the Royal Society of London, was born in Russia in August 1974 and holds both British and Russian citizenship.

He is widely recognized for his groundbreaking work on graphene insulation, conducted at the University of Manchester in 2004. Professor Novoselov is an expert in condensed matter physics, mesoscopic physics, and nanotechnology.

Professor Novoselov has authored over 250 highly regarded scientific papers in the academic world. He holds the position of Langworthy Professor of Physics and serves as a Royal Society Research Professor at the University of Manchester. He obtained his degree from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and completed his doctoral studies at the University of Nijmegen in the Netherlands before joining the University of Manchester in 2001.

/m.ll/