Dear Colleagues,
We would like to welcome you to the International Conference on NANOstructures and nanomaterials SElf-Assembly 2016 (NanoSEA 2016) in Giardini Naxos, Messina, Italy. This is the 6th edition of a conference series held every two years either at the french or italian seaside. NanoSEA began in Aix-en-Provence, France in 2006, making this event an important forum for all the researchers involved in Nanostructured Materials and Self-Assembly. This conference is now recognized as a tradition and important forum that during the last two editions attracted around 250 participants in Cagliari (Italy) and 200 in Marseille (France). For NanoSEA 2016 we received approximately 200 abstracts from leading international researchers in academic and industrial institutions specialized in nanomaterials. Their contributes are organized in two plenary sessions, three parallel sessions for the oral presentations and a poster session. We expect to host more than 250 worldwide participants.

The Conference will focus on research in the field of 1D, 2D and 3D nanostructures concerning their growth and characterization, and their modeling and applications. The Conference will cover the physics of structures at the nanoscale, from fundamentals to new fabrication techniques and large-scale patterning. Moreover, the nanoscale structural, optical, electrical, and magnetic properties of self-assembled systems will be discussed. Finally, new insights on nanostructured based future device applications will be presented.

The social events include an excursion to Mount Etna, which is the highest active volcano in Europe (3.340 m above sea level) and an Unesco World Heritage Site. The second social event will be a dinner at "Cantine Nicosia" in Trecastagni, at the foot of one of the extinguished craters dotting Mount Etna (nearly 700 m above sea level). Before the social dinner, all the attendees are invited to a guided tour in the wine cellers (cantine, in italian) of the restaurant to learn about wine making followed by a tasting of a large selection of Sicilian wines. The Social excursion and dinner are planned for Wednesday the 6th.

Finally, we want to acknowledge the conference staff for their efforts over a course of a year of conference preparation. Also, we want to thank the sponsors who provided financial support, helping to make NanoSEA 2016 a reality.

Hoping you enjoy the scientific program as well as the warm atmosphere of Giardini Naxos. We wish a comfortable stay in Sicily.