Nanotechnology in Education and Basic Research - Institute for ...

Nanotechnology in Educationand Basic Research•Public Education & Curriculum•Graduate Research•Workforce Training

From museums tocolleges, fromprofessors tofactory workers,from researchers tobusinessmen, fromkindergarteners toPhDs.How does small science help produce big ideas?http://www.wsu.edu/artmuse/images/MuseumFrontDineHeads.jpghttp://www.havenscandies.com/images/Factory%20tour.jpg

How Big Is Nano?This is onenanometer!http://www.terressentials.com/exposure.html

http://www.nano.gov/html/facts/The_scale_of_things.html

The National NanotechnologyInitiative has Four GoalsGoal 1. Maintain a world-class researchand development program aimed atrealizing the full potential ofnanotechnology.Goal 2. Facilitate transfer of newtechnologies into products for economicgrowth, jobs, and other public benefit.http://ctl.sri.com/publications/downloads/NanoEdSystem_v11.pdfImage: http://www.skinnersschool.co.uk/?page=page&function=science%20specialismGoal 3. Develop educational resources, askilled workforce, and the supportinginfrastructure and tools to advancenanotechnology.Goal 4. Support responsible development ofnanotechnology.

Which Means…The NNI goals can be summarized as• Education• Education• Education• And Educationhttap://www.trilliumassociates.com/professional.html

How Do We Know?• How did the scientists learn how todesign, conduct and makeappropriate conclusions aboutnanoscience and nanotechnology?• On what knowledge do we evaluatenanoscience and nanotechnologydevelopments?• Who teaches thenanotechnologytechnicians what todo and how to do it?http://www.serif.com/education/

More Questions• How do we know that the information aboutnanotechnology is accurate?• Is this nanotechnology safe for theenvironment, for you? Who‟s conducting thetests to make these determinations? Howreliable is their data?•Is it appropriate to use thesematerials, socially, ethically?

It Takes Education!Education should be our highest priority.From the previous questions you can see thatthe issues are complex. The effects of ourdecisions are far-reaching ecologically,socially and economically.• Making appropriate decisions requires skill and astrong educational foundation.• The directions and priorities of our educationsystems will impact will determine the futurestrength and prosperity of our country.http://www.campusaccess.com/

1. Public Education& CurriculumSince it is difficult to learn about things thatwe can‟t see at the nanoscale, hands-on andonline resources help younger studentsvisual and become engaged in meaningfulnanoscience.Podcasts, cable TV news stories,live presentation videos, labs andmuseums can stimulate an interestin science and nanotechnology.Schools need funding to providethese more stimulating forms ofcurriculum.http://www.mec.edu/http://www.mise.org/mise/index.jsp

And the PublicThese museums, broadcasts and other publiceducational opportunities will provide importantnanoscience knowledge to the general public.This will enable aneducated public to makeappropriate decisionsabout usingnanotechnology.http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/gallatin/?page=educationhttp://www.mise.org/mise/index.jsp

Teenagers are Expensive!As students become teenagersthey become sophisticatedmedia consumers and the mostexpensive and „hard to reach‟.http://www.campusaccess.com/http://www.cviog.uga.edu/services/education/http://www.cvs.k12.mi.us/rcummins/scienceolympiad/At this age, 8 to 18, career optionsand an awareness of science andtechnology-oriented fields helpstudents become aware ofnanoscience careers. But let‟s face it.Kids at this age are less interested inschool than other things.

Where‟s The Money For It?Engaging interactive learning,based on nano-sciences andnanotechnology, encouragescomprehension and retention ofnew skills. That means moreinteractive online programs andmore labs. It would be great to takefield trips to science museums,too! Of course, all of this may bemore entertaining than reading thetextbook. But all of this requiresplenty of money!http://www.goshen.edu/.cWtools/download.php/mnF=comp_studying.jpg,mnOD=Pictures,mnOD=My%20Documents,dc=computerscience,dc=www,dc=goshen,dc=edu

Besides…As we develop any new technology we must addressquestions concerning these issues:•Potentialandpreventablerisks•Respect forindividuals•Safeguardsfor workers•Justiceandfairness•Intellectualpropertyhttp://ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplore/login.jsp?url=/iel5/5/27802/01240084.pdf?arnumber=1240084http://www.aictec.edu.au/aictec/gohttp://nano.foe.org.au/image/view/222

The Impact on SocietyTo address these impacts onsociety:1) We must incorporating ethicsresearch into nanoscienceresearch and developmenthttp://ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplore/login.jsp?url=/iel5/5/27802/01240084.pdf?arnumber=1240084http://www.sweden.se/templates/cs/FactSheet____16958.aspx2) Incorporate public feedbackinto research and development3) Educational efforts at everylevel should address technical,ethics, social and environmentalimplications or innovations.

Institute of Nanotechnology in Stirling, U.Khttp://www.nanotech-now.com/columns/?article=179Images : http://www.campusaccess.com/ andhttp://www.sweden.se/templates/cs/FactSheet____16958.aspxhttp://www.impactlab.com/2008/05/08/nanotech-venture-capital-is-out-of-sync-with-returns/Higher EducationIn the past, students often would major inbiology or chemistry. But much ofnanoscience is on the cusp between thesciences, say between biology andchemistry, or geology and physics, suchas nanomaterials, nanophotonics,nanoelectronics and nanobiotechnology.Since nanotechnology isinterdisciplinary, we need todevelop curricula that breaks thebarriers between the disciplines.Only in that way can we growour future nanotechnologists.

WorldLeadershipIf the United States hopes to become a world leaderin nanoscience in a way that address the needs ofthe environment and our social values, we needfunding to explore how ideas in nanoscience andnanotechnology can be incorporated into theclassroom at all levels.http://www.csuci.edu/exed/http://www.ntxscied.net/http://www.nanovera.com/nanovera_science.htm

2. GraduateResearchDevelopments in nanotechnology requireinput from different disciplines, a widerange of facilities and techniques.Nanoscience research and developmentalso requires sophisticated andexpensive specialized facilities.Scientists need to share laboratories inuniversities, businesses and withingovernment facilities to accomplishtheir research. Funding and trained isnecessary to buy and operate thisspecialized equipment.http://eric.bachard.free.fr/news/http://www.mec.edu/profdev/profintro.cfmhttp://www.voyle.net/2006%20Electronics/Nano%20Electronics-2006-099+049.htm

WorkforceTrainingTraining people is a key for longtermsuccess.• We need an educatingnanotechnology workforce.• Highly specialized workers are indemand, and candidates with on-thejobexperience are highly prized.This, too, requires a greatdeal of funding.http://www.britishcouncil.org/arts-film-education.htm http://nanoarchitecture.net/images/720.jpghttp://www.solarserver.de/solarmagazin/images/nano_iws_270.jpg

Nanoscience Education is aNational GoalThe 21st century NanotechnologyResearch and Development Act statesthat the National NanotechnologyProgram will include…“effective education and training forresearchers and professionals skilledin the interdisciplinary perspectivesnecessary for nanotechnology so thata true interdisciplinary researchculture for nanoscale science,engineering, and technology canemerge.”http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgibin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=108_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ153.108http://www.greaterhoustonsigns.org/EducationEvents/tabid/86/Default.aspx

But We Need Money!Part of The NNI, NationalNanotechnology Initiative, focuseson• Developing educational resources,• A skilled workforce,http://wcc.warren.k12.in.us/courseofferings/adultcontinuingedu.asp• Developing he supportinginfrastructure,• Tools needed to advancenanotechnology,• Presently a great deal of our fundsaddress developing nanotechnologyeducation at all levels.http://www.poerink.nl/jongepoerink/Products/Tiger/tabid/241/Default.aspx

What isNanotechnology?What would life be like without cars ortrucks? Cars revolutionized society, theeconomy and technology. And that wasjust one small part of the industrialrevolution.We are now at a threshold of anew revolution, a revolution inthe ways in which materialsand products are created.http://www.apecforesight.org/apec_wide/nano_education.cfmImage: http://www.biojobblog.com/2007/12/articles/biotraining/uh-oh-here-we-go-againusfalls-further-behind-in-science-education/http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/05/pixar_cars/source/9.htm

New DevicesNanotechnology is thefabrication and use of devicesat the nanometer (a billionthof a meter). At that scale weare creating and usingmaterials and devices on amolecular and atomic scale.http://www.frequencyclear.tv/index7.htmlimage: live bovine cell with nanocrystal highlights :http://www.futureforall.org/nanotechnology/nanotechnology.htm

InterdisciplinaryTrainingResearchers and technologists are approachingnanotechnology from different directions and requireinterdisciplinary training:In physics, microelectronics are getting smaller.In chemistry, new catalyst, membrane sensor andcoatings create structures from the atomic andmolecular levels.In biology, living systems can becombined with non-livingnanostructured materials.http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2002/15jan_nano.htm

http://www.apecforesight.org/apec_wide/nano_education.cfmhttp://soe.ku.edu/ct/programs/Science_Education.phpTo Be More Specific…

ChoicesNanotechnology is so diverse thatits effects will result in social,economic and environmentalchanges as great as the inventionof the car.http://arapaho.nsuok.edu/~adams001/http://www.atlantykron.org/program.htmHow we, as educated oruneducated consumers, usenanotechnology will determinethe impact of nanoscience onthe human population and theworld.

Nanoscience and nanotechnology are leading to a technologicalrevolution.• All sectors of the economy and society will be profoundly influenced.• Governments around the world are investing large amounts inresearch.• There is a growing demand for scientists and engineers trained in aninterdisciplinary approach to research and production innanotechnology.• So when considering the importance of nanotechnology education ofhttp://www.atlantykron.org/program.htmour citizens…

Chinese Proverbhttp://www.adonisconstruction.co.uk/Content/ContentImages/1.jpg"The best time to plant a tree istwenty years ago. The second besttime is now."

Planning YourPresentationTo prepare for yourpresentation, answerthese questions usingreference materialswhich can include thewebsites linked to thiswebquest:1. What can be done tomaximize the chances thathumans will benefit from,rather than be harmed bythese new developments?2. If we can develop thesetechnologies, should we?Why?http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2007/02/15/PH2007021502068.jpghttp://www.presentationalspeaking.com/images/pic_2.jpg

Social, Environmental andEthical Concerns1. Might these nanotechnology developments ineducation infringe on human rights?2. Could any of them decrease privacy of individuals?3. Could the use of nanotechnology for education haveunwanted and negative environmental effects?4. What economic impact could the use ofnanotechnology in education have on producers,consumers, and other industries? Might they benegative or positive?

What About Your Rights?If so, are these developmentsmore important than•Your privacy?•Your rights as a citizen?•Your rights as a human being?Are the answers somewhere in between?

Education WebsitesThe general website page linked below is full ofnanotechnology sites related to multiple areas includingyours. After exhausting these resources you may alsowish to use your search engine and appropriate key wordsand phrases to find more information.General Nanoscience Weblinks

More HelpIf you would like help breaking downyour research into steps, click on thehelp button for an outline.