The nanoscience community is excited about the return of the International Conference on Scanning Tunneling Microscopy, which ran from 1986 to 2005 and is now back for 2025 after a two-decade absence.
Known now as STM’25, the event will take place June 23rd—27th at the Ewha Campus Complex at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, South Korea. Leading experts and innovators in the field of scanning probe microscopy will be in attendance, including RHK Technology, an STM’25 event sponsor. The conference will cover a full range of subjects, including Quantum Materials, Spins on Surfaces, Light-Matter Interactions, On-Surface Chemistry, and Novel Techniques. Satellite workshops will also focus on specific topics, allowing students and postdocs to learn and share their work.
RHK Technology President and Company Founder Adam Kollin will be attending STM’25 and will give a talk on Tuesday, June 24th at 11:15a.m. We asked him five questions about the event.
Q: Adam, what are you looking forward to most after STM’25’s 20-year hiatus?
A: What I look forward to most is the industry’s unique sense of community, as every attendee shares a deep interest in scanning probe microscopy, making the conversations always relevant and inspiring. It’s rare to find a conference where everyone’s research overlaps so closely, and I can’t wait to connect with colleagues and fellow researchers.
Q: You have an STM’25 session scheduled for Tuesday, June 24th. What’s on the agenda for those attending your presentation?
A: This year’s presentation is especially meaningful for me. I’ll be announcing the formal transition of RHK’s management and ownership to the next generation —Ken and Ben Kollin. It’s a proud moment, as RHK has maintained the longest continuous ownership and management in the SPM industry, and that legacy will continue. I’ll also be sharing some of our latest technological advances and giving a sneak peek at exciting new products we have in development. Most importantly, I want to highlight how our commitment to supporting the SPM community remains as strong as ever.
Q: For those curious about RHK Technology, what will they be able to see when they visit your booth?
A: We’re bringing models of both our Beetle and PanScan heads so visitors can get a hands-on sense of how these could fit into their research setups. People are often surprised by how compact and versatile these systems are, as it opens up possibilities for integration that many hadn’t considered before. I’m always eager to discuss how our technology can help advance individual research goals.
Q: Is there anyone attending the STM’25 Conference that you are personally most looking forward to seeing?
A: One of the most rewarding aspects of my career has been seeing the growth of the SPM community. Since delivering our first SPM control system in 1987, RHK has worked with many pioneering research groups. Now, I find it especially gratifying to meet their students and even their students’ students. Hearing their stories about early RHK technology and introducing them to our latest innovations is a wonderful reminder of how far we’ve come in our industry.
Q: Do you have any advice for those attending STM’25 that you’d like to share?
A: My advice is simple: come by our RHK booth early in the conference and let’s start a conversation. Many researchers are surprised by how much our product lines have advanced and by our ability to customize systems to meet their specific needs. We’re always eager to learn about your challenges and discuss how we can help. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone and sharing what RHK has to offer—you will be impressed.
If you’re attending STM’25, plan a visit with Adam to talk about how RHK is advancing the vision of nanoscience in 2025 and beyond.
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