NNIN Education Site
Nanotechnology Education Activities at Texas NNIN Site
The
University of
Texas at
Austin’s Microelectronics Research Center (MRC) has several education and outreach programs that are important part of its association with the National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN).
REU and other Programs – The MRC is a participant in the NNIN Research Experience for Undergraduates Program. Each summer, the MRC hosts 3 to7 undergraduates from across the country during 10-week mentored research internships. Also MRC plays an active part for the NIMS in
Japan, by hosting one Japanese graduate student per year.
Teacher education and outreach: MRC partnership with SAME-TEC and brought together education and industry professionals seeking knowledge on converging and emerging technologies and workforce development solutions. MRC proposed a pre-conference workshop with lectures and hands-on. The UT experts demonstrated to the 22 attendees the need of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Profilometer, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Optical Microscope, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Ellipsometer, to explore the micro to nanoscale material propertiesChildren’s Museum Program – In the spring of 2005, the MRC collaborated with the Texas Materials Institute to present programs on various materials and energy themes at the Austin Children's Museum. Student and faculty volunteers staffed activity booths that let visitors test acids and bases with litmus paper, blow big bubbles, make polymers, play with memory wire, try liquid nitrogen ice cream, and much more.
Hands-on Workshops: Twice a year the MRC organized a Nano-imprint lithography workshop. In this two days workshop, an introduction lectures on process steps involved in Step and Flash Imprint Lithography (Photolithography, Etching) are given. During the two hands-on sessions, attendees do lab practice by imprinting on IMPRIO100 from Molecular Imprints Inc. as well as by dry etching for transferring sub-100nm imprint patterns into substrate. We learn how to transfer holes and pillars from the same template by utilizing two imprint resists (A non-Si non-containing monomer and a Si-containing monomer) following by adequate etching processes. http://www.mrc.utexas.edu/nnin-events.html
Enrichment program – MRC offered many cleanroom tours and seminars all through the year. During these tours and seminars MRC staffs give an overview on micro and nano fabrication, equipments and applications. Persons from different age group, with different professional areas attended the tours and seminars: summer camp kids, high school students, high school teachers, conference participants, and various institutes.
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