This conference series commenced in 1998 in Barcelona under the name “Congreso Español de Microscopias de Fuerzas y Efecto Túnel” (Spanish Conference on Force Microscopies and Tunneling Effects). Its exceptional success and the rapid growth of scanning probe microscopy in Spain led to the establishment of this biennial event as a must-attend for every SPM microscopist in Spain. Over the years, the conference has traveled across various cities, including Santiago de Compostela (2000), Zamora (2002), Vic (2004), Murcia (2006), Segovia (2008), Tarragona (2010), El Escorial (2012), San Sebastián (2014), Gerona (2016), and Jaca (2018). After a long hiatus caused by the pandemic, we now reunite under the auspices of a XVI century monastery in Zamora – the very place where this conference first took on the name ‘Fuerzas y Túnel’ 21 years ago.
As we celebrate this milestone, we extend our gratitude to ALL who have contributed to the success of FyT throughout the years. Your dedication has shaped the trajectory of scanning probe microscopy in Spain and beyond. In this celebration, we reflect on the thrilling origins of SPM in the world and in Spain, paying homage to the pioneers who paved the way for its remarkable growth, but also we look ahead on what it is still a burgeoning research field. In this momentous round table discussion, we are honored to be joined by esteemed experts who have made significant contributions to the field. Each of these distinguished individuals represents a different facet of the SPM community, bringing their unique perspectives and expertise to the table. Together, they exemplify the diverse angles from which SPM has been developed in our country. Our esteemed panelists include:
Prof. Christoph Gerber, a representative of the birth of SPM in the world and in Spain. Prof. Gerber will tell us about the origins/discovery of a revolutionary technique, how an open-science initiative (generously sharing the know-how all over the world) fostered the rapid growth of the technique, and the origins of SPM in Spain.
Prof. Rodolfo Miranda, a representative of nanoscience and nanotechnology. The invention of SPM marked a turning point in nanoscience, as with it we could ‘see’ this nanoworld with an unprecedented resolution, but also we could also manipulate it (atoms, spins…). Prof. Miranda will tell us about the arrival of SPM in Spain and how it reshaped our understanding of the nanoworld from fundamental physics up to biology.
Prof. Carmen Ocal, a representative of Surface Physics. Prof. Ocal will discuss how SPM opened a whole new world of possibilities to surface science. In particular how new SPM-spectroscopy techniques enabled the characterization of different properties and new materials. Also she will provide us a perspective of how it stands among others in the field and its unique advantages and future challenges.
Prof. José Ángel Martín Gago, a representative surface-chemistry. A relatively young SPM offspring is on-surface chemistry and the possibility to unveil chemical reactions at single bond level. Prof. Gago will overview important strides made in organic chemistry thanks to SPM and how it shed light on the chemical composition of interstellar medium … we are all made of stardust.
Prof. Rubén Peréz, a representative of theory and simulation. Relating the signals measured in SPM to specific properties is far from straightforward. Although the need for the theoretical foundations was immediately realized from SPM early-stages, the increasing computational power enabled an increasingly detailed description. Prof. Peréz will provide us an overview on why/how theory has enabled us developing new imaging modes, and related the measured forces/currents into complex exotic properties of materials.
Prof. Julio Gomez-Herrero, a representative of the continuous development of the technique. Since it’s origins, SPM has been tied with a major technical development – a key aspect that has keep the field as fresh and vibrant as in its beginnings. Prof. Gomez-Herrero will provide us an overview of this constant defy of the limitations of the technique, and how this has opened new avenues to explore ever-new physical properties/phenomenon. Such breakthrough were only tamable thanks to the invaluable synergistic tandem between engineers and scientists.
Dr. Adriana Gil, a representative of knowledge transfer. Nanotec was a major player in the development of SPM in Spain. Not only it provided a platform to redistribute the know-how, but the close proximity between company and users catalyzed a major development of the technique. Dr. Gil, the director of the first SPM company in Spain will provide us an inside view on how Nanotec played a vital role in making an organic transfer of all this knowledge, and how this ultimately lead to a diverse SPM Spanish community, with a know-how scattered throughout the country/reasearch-fields.
With the collective wisdom and expertise of these esteemed panelists, our round table discussion promises to be a captivating exploration of the multifaceted contributions that have propelled the development of SPM in Spain. Join us as we embark on this enlightening journey, celebrating the past and embracing the future of scanning probe microscopy.
