The 21st century is the era of nano science and technology. When the size of matter is reduced to the nanometer scale (one nanometer equals to one billionth of a meter), the number of atoms and electrons inside become countable and there appear quantum effects such as the size effect and the phase coherence effect. In 1959 the renowned physicist Richard Feynman foresaw the way to the science of nanotechnology in his talk entitled "There's plenty of room at the bottom." He suggested the possibility of controlling and assembling individual atoms and molecules on a one-by-one basis. This fiction-like suggestion at that time is now becoming the ultimate but realistic objective of nano science and technology research. The impact of this research in the field of nanometer scale studies is enormous.

The interdisciplinary program of nano science and technology at Seoul National University was established in 2002 with the aim of training graduate students to become experts in the ever growing field of nano science and technology. The program offers education and research opportunities in the three sub-fields of i) Nanoscale Physics and Device Application, ii) Nanoscale Material and Chemistry, and iii) Nanoscale Biosystem.

Through its close partnership with the national laboratory (KIST) and with industry (SAIT), the program of nano science and technology at Seoul National University is helping students to meet the challenges of the new century. The program of nano science and technology is affiliated to the Nano-System Institute in Seoul National University and is supported by the National Core Research Center(NCRC) program from KOSEF which provides solid financial support for the students in the program.