UA Little Rock to Celebrate Nanotechnology Research at Nano Day 2026

Students, faculty, researchers, and members of the scientific community will come together at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Friday, Oct. 9 to explore the rapidly evolving world of nanoscience and nanotechnology.

Nano Day 2026 will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Ledbetter A, B, and C of the Donaghey Student Center. The event will showcase nanotechnology research taking place across UA Little Rock through faculty presentations, student research posters, laboratory tours, and opportunities for networking and interdisciplinary collaboration. Registration for the event is now closed.

Nanotechnology involves studying and manipulating materials at an extremely small scale, often at the level of individual atoms and molecules, with applications spanning fields such as medicine, electronics, energy, and advanced materials. 

Dr. Gregory Guisbiers, associate professor of physics and astronomy at UA Little Rock, launched Nano Day in 2025 as a way to bring together researchers and students working across disciplines.

“When I started Nano Day at UA Little Rock in 2025, one of my goals was to create a space where our faculty members and students could come together to share ideas, highlight the exciting nanoscience and nanotechnology research being conducted across our campus, and build new connections,” Guisbiers said. “Nanotechnology is inherently interdisciplinary, bringing together physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, materials science, and many other fields.”

This year’s event will feature an invited presentation from Dr. Saw Hla of Argonne National Laboratory, a leading researcher in nanoscience and nanoscale materials. His presentation will give attendees an opportunity to learn about cutting-edge developments in nanotechnology and engage with an internationally recognized scientist.

Students will also have the opportunity to showcase their own work through judged poster presentations, interact with researchers, and learn more about different areas of nanotechnology.

“Engaging directly with the scientific community and interacting with internationally recognized researchers are invaluable experiences that complement their academic education and help prepare them for future careers in science and technology,” Guisbiers said.

In addition to research presentations and laboratory tours, Nano Day will provide opportunities for attendees to network and build connections across disciplines. The event will conclude with an awards ceremony recognizing student poster presentations.