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For Immediate Release                                                        
Feb. 21, 2000                    

The Age of Micromachines Examined in Lawrence University Science Lecture


     APPLETON, WIS. -- When it comes to building machines, the notion of
bigger is better has been replaced with how small can we go.  
     David Bishop, a pioneer in the development of micromechanical
devices, will discuss the revolutionizing potential for micromechanics
and their impact on industries as diverse as automaking, cellular
communications, acoustics and display technologies in a Lawrence
University science hall colloquium.  Bishop presents "Can Silicon
Micromachines Make It Big?" Tuesday, Feb. 29 at 4:15 p.m. in Youngchild
Hall, Room 161. The event is free and open to the public.
     Silicon micromachines are devices smaller than a human hair that
can accomplish almost everything their full-sized counterparts can, from
rotary electric motors, toothed gears, hinges, pulleys, tweezers and
wheels.  In his address, Bishop will provide an overview of current
micromechanic technology, describe how micromachines are made and
illustrate examples of these new breed of machines in operation.
     A member of the New Jersey-based Bell Laboratories technical staff
since 1979, Bishop was named head of Bell's microstructure physics
research department in 1988.  He earned his Ph.D. in Physics from
Cornell University.