NNIN Education Site

Nanotechnology Education Activities at U. Washington

The University of Washington’s Center for Nanotechnology is engaged in several activities to promote nano-education, particularly at the post-secondary level.

Dual Ph.D. Program - The nation’s first Dual Degree Ph.D. Program in Nanotechnology develops the essential educational and research infrastructure for multidisciplinary training at the frontiers of nanoscale science and technology. The core philosophy of the dual degree program combines depth in a single discipline with breadth in nanoscale science and technology.  Students admitted to any of ten participating departments acquire depth through meeting the requirements for a Ph.D. in their home department.  To date 35 students have completed this dual degree, earning Ph.D.s in both their home department discipline and nanotechnology and are currently employed as staff scientists, faculty, and postdoctoral researchers around the country, while another 50 are currently enrolled.  For further information: http://nano.washington.edu/education/index.html

RET Program - The Research Experience for Teachers (RET) in nanoscience and nanotechnology enables middle and high school science teachers to participate in a summer laboratory immersion, both grounding them in fundamental principles of nanoscale science and technology, and supporting their development of classroom materials.  Working with UW CNT faculty, post docs, graduate students, and others, RET participants:

• Explore cutting-edge, scientific advances and current laboratory techniques in nanoscale science and technology
• Collaborate with UW sanotechnology is engaged in several activities to promote nano-education, particularly at the post-secocientists to integrate this research into inquiry-based classroom learning materials
  
• Learn about career opportunities in nanoscience and nanotechnology to share with their students.

REU Program -   The NNIN Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program provides a 10-week-long, hands-on summer research project for undergraduates from across the country.  Participating students meet regularly with leading faculty, and are directly supervised by one or more of the laboratory’s graduate students and/or postdoctoral fellows in daily oversight of their work.  REU students become active members of a research laboratory, learning a range of techniques and methodologies, studying the original research literature, and joining in lab meetings and dialogs around the broader ongoing investigations.  As a key part of the NNIN REU experience, students participate in science communication classes, developing and presenting talks, posters, and papers.  They also receive training in and gain hands-on experiences with cutting edge nanotechnology instrumentation in the CNT NanoTech User Facility.

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Student Association (NaNSA) - The goals of the Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Student Association (NaNSA) are to stimulate interdisciplinary interactions among the graduate students from different disciplines, promote interactions among industry and university colleagues, and to engage students in outreach activities.  NaNSA has a dozen students each year in leadership positions, including not only standard officers, but also chairs of very active committees such as outreach, industry liaisons, and fund-raising.  Its semi-monthly meetings provide forums for students to exchange ideas and to learn about the diversity of nanotechnology research, both on campus and beyond.  NaNSA also hosts many of the world-renowned scientists and engineers from other institutions who are Nanotechnology Seminar speakers, giving NaNSA members an opportunity for one-on-one dialogs with these experts.

Nanotechnology Workshops - CNT, working with various collaborators, has developed and delivered a series of Nanoscale Science and Technology Workshops and Short Courses.  UW faculty, students, and visiting scientists share their cutting-edge research into emerging fields, employing the NanoTech User Facility’s state-of-the-art instrumentation for hands-on aspects.  A wide range of students, along with academic, governmental, and industrial researchers have benefited from these offerings. 

Nanotechnology Mentorship Program -  The Nanotechnology Mentorship Program has developed in collaboration with Center for Workforce Development at the UW since 2001.  The mission of the program is to create a mutually beneficial relationship between academic or industry mentor and mentee (graduate student), allowing the field of nanotechnology to build a pool of talent to enhance its impact on society.  The program serves the student population – the graduate students from ten interdisciplinary fields – in the course of positive social networking, occupational guidance, student retention, and informational programs.  Students are encouraged to participate in the multi-facet aspects of the program including regular meetings of mentor and mentee, seminars, and luncheons.  A Social Work graduate student evaluates the program by collecting information and perceptions from nanotech students over time. 

Pacific Science Center Exhibits – Graduate students from the CNT have collaborated with science educators and other museum professionals from PSC to create mobile “Nano Cart” exhibit modules that intrigue and engage a broad public audience in this innovative science field.  In 2008, this collaboration will center around the “Strange Matter” traveling exhibit that will be hosted by PSC.

Community College Collaboration - Staff from the CNT have worked with leaders from North Seattle Community College to build a new Nanotechnology Associate of Arts two-year degree program to support the creation of a technically-trained workforce and meet emerging staffing needs in industrial nanotechnology.  The NTUF is a key component of the program, providing a forum for hands-on experiences in a wide variety of nano techniques to ensure sufficient breadth of training and background.

Introductory Level Nano Education Modules – CNT staff and participants from various of the above-listed programs have developed, pilot tested, and refined a range of education materials aimed at younger and less sophisticated populations. These modules, critical in meeting the needs of introducing this abstract and complex field to novices, are being posted on both UW and the NNIN web sites.

For further information:  http://depts.washington.edu/ntuf/outreach/index.php   and/or  http://www.nano.washington.edu/education/index.html

Return to NNIN Education Portal                       Return to NNIN Home Page