Nanotechnology Education Activities at U.Minnesota Site

NNIN Education Site

Educational activities at the University of Minnesota node are focused in four primary areas:

The first is our participation in the NNIN REU as well other two other REU programs operated through the University. Each summer six to twelve students are active in these programs. Summer 2007NNIN REU students are involved in plasma synthesis of nanoparticles, quantum dot light emitters, probing nanostructures of bio-renewable polyurethanes, multicomponent block copolymers, and nanomechanical tuning of electron states.

The second major education activity that NNIN helps to support is outreach to Associate Degree programs. Working in collaboration with the Dakota County Technical College, the University has developed a one-semester capstone experience that will cover not only thin films and micro/nanofabrication, but also materials characterization, nanoparticle formation, filtration, and detection, and an intro to biotech. All of this material is hands-on, with weekly lab experiences. 20 students have graduated from the program; 17 of these graduates have been placed in nanoscience related jobs and 3 have transferred to baccalaureate institutions. The third group of students is currently preparing to come to the University in the spring of 2008. In addition, the Minnesota NNIN node participates in summer student nano camps in support of this program each summer. To date, 200 high school students have attended these camps.

The third area is short courses and master classes. In 2007 there were a number of such courses including the BioMEMS Short Course, Advanced Materials SIG Characterization of Nano Materials, Surface and Thin-Film Characterization Master Class, Aerosol and Particle Measurement Short Course. One class for 2008 has already been announced: Synthetic Biomaterials and Biointerfaces.

And lastly, the node hosts an annual Nano Conference. 2007's Conference was the most successful to date, attracting over 300 people: about 100 faculty and students from 27 other educational institutions; almost 90 industry attendees from 45 different companies; faculty, staff and students from more than 20 different University of Minnesota departments. In 2005, the NNIN sponsored the Second Annual International Symposium on Nanotechnology and Occupational Health.