# MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology > New Zealand Centre of Research Excellence **Wikidata**: [Q6721799](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6721799) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacDiarmid_Institute_for_Advanced_Materials_and_Nanotechnology) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/macdiarmid-institute-for-advanced-materials-and-nanotechnology ## Summary The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology is a New Zealand Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) specializing in materials science and nanotechnology. Founded in 2002 and headquartered at Victoria University of Wellington, it serves as a national collaborative network for advanced scientific research and development. ## Key Facts - **Official Name:** MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology (Māori: Te Mana Tangata Whakawhanake) - **Inception Date:** July 1, 2002 - **Founder:** Paul Callaghan - **Named After:** Nobel laureate Alan MacDiarmid - **Classification:** Research institute and New Zealand Centre of Research Excellence - **Primary Funder:** Tertiary Education Commission - **Host Institution:** Victoria University of Wellington - **Current Director:** Nicola Gaston - **Headquarters:** Wellington City, New Zealand - **Fields of Work:** Nanotechnology and materials science ## FAQs ### Q: Who founded the MacDiarmid Institute? A: The institute was founded by physicist Paul Callaghan in 2002. It was named in honor of Alan MacDiarmid, a New Zealand-born scientist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. ### Q: What is the primary purpose of the MacDiarmid Institute? A: It is a Centre of Research Excellence dedicated to advanced research in materials science and nanotechnology. It functions as a collaborative network to advance scientific knowledge and innovation across New Zealand. ### Q: Which organization provides the funding for the institute? A: The institute is primarily funded by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC). It is also affiliated with and hosted by Victoria University of Wellington. ### Q: What is MESA in the context of the MacDiarmid Institute? A: MESA stands for the MacDiarmid Emerging Scientists Association. It is a subsidiary organization within the institute focused on supporting and representing early-career researchers and students. ## Why It Matters The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology is a cornerstone of New Zealand's high-tech research sector. As a designated Centre of Research Excellence, it facilitates large-scale collaboration between researchers that would be difficult to achieve within a single university. By focusing on nanotechnology and materials science, the institute addresses fundamental scientific questions while driving innovations that contribute to the global knowledge economy. The institute plays a critical role in maintaining New Zealand's international standing in the physical sciences. Its namesake, Alan MacDiarmid, and its founder, Paul Callaghan, are two of the most significant figures in New Zealand's scientific history, and the institute continues their legacy by fostering a high-standard research environment. Through its subsidiary, the MacDiarmid Emerging Scientists Association (MESA), the institute also ensures the sustainability of the scientific workforce by providing specialized support and networking for the next generation of materials scientists and nanotechnologists. ## Notable For - **National Research Status:** Holds the prestigious designation of a New Zealand Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE). - **Nobel Legacy:** Named after Alan MacDiarmid, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2000. - **Collaborative Network:** Operates as a multi-institutional organization hosted by Victoria University of Wellington but involving researchers from across the country. - **Early-Career Support:** Maintains the MacDiarmid Emerging Scientists Association (MESA) to foster development for junior scientists. ## Body ### Origins and Leadership The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology was established on July 1, 2002. It was founded by Paul Callaghan to serve as a premier research body in New Zealand. The institute is named after Alan MacDiarmid, a Nobel Prize-winning chemist. As of 2019, the institute is led by Director Nicola Gaston. ### Institutional Framework The institute is classified as a research institute and a New Zealand Centre of Research Excellence. It is primarily funded by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC). While it is a part of Victoria University of Wellington, it functions as a national network. Its headquarters are located in Wellington City at coordinates -41.289246, 174.767312. ### Research and Development The institute focuses on two primary fields: - **Materials Science:** The study of the properties and applications of matter. - **Nanotechnology:** The manipulation of matter on an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale. ### Technical Identifiers The institute is recognized in various global research databases under the following identifiers: - **ROR ID:** 04gjfdj81 - **GRID ID:** grid.482895.a - **Ringgold ID:** 533784 - **VIAF ID:** 232898717 - **Library of Congress ID:** no2012031744 ### Community and Subsidiaries The institute operates the MacDiarmid Emerging Scientists Association (MESA), which serves as its primary subsidiary for student and early-career researcher engagement. The institute's official Māori name is Te Mana Tangata Whakawhanake. It maintains an official web presence at macdiarmid.ac.nz and uses the Instagram handle @macdiarmidinsti. ## References 1. [Home. 2018](https://www.macdiarmid.ac.nz/) 2. [About us - tā mātou mahi. 2018](https://www.macdiarmid.ac.nz/about-us/) 3. Virtual International Authority File 4. [The MacDiarmid Institute turns 20. 2023](http://www.macdiarmid.ac.nz/news-and-events/news/news-articles/the-macdiarmid-institute-turns-20/) 5. [Management, Strategic, and Professional Staff. 2019](https://www.macdiarmid.ac.nz/our-people/management-strategic-and-professional-staff/) 6. GRID Release 2017-05-22 7. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph 8. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)