Nanotechnology in Education
and Basic Research
Public
Education & Curriculum
Graduate Research
Workforce Training
From museums to
colleges, from
professors to
factory workers,
from researchers to
businessmen, from
kindergarteners to
PhDs.
How does
small
science help produce
http://www.wsu.edu/artmuse/images/MuseumFrontDineHeads.jpg
http://www.havenscandies.com/images/Factory%20tour.jpg
big ideas?
How Big Is Nano?
This is one
nanometer!
http://www.terressentials.com/exposure.html
http://www.nano.gov/html/facts/The_scale_of_things.html
The National Nanotechnology
Initiative has Four Goals
Goal 1. Maintain a world-class research
and development program aimed at
realizing the full potential of
nanotechnology.
Goal 2. Facilitate transfer of new
technologies into products for economic
growth, jobs, and other public benefit.
Goal 3. Develop educational resources, a
skilled workforce, and the supporting
infrastructure and tools to advance
nanotechnology.
Goal 4. Support responsible development of
nanotechnology.
http://ctl.sri.com/publications/downloads/NanoEdSystem_v11.pdf
Image: http://www.skinnersschool.co.uk/?page=page&function=science%20specialism
Which Means…
The NNI goals can be summarized as
 Education
 Education
 Education
 And Education
httap://www.trilliumassociates.com/professional.html
How Do We Know?


How did the scientists learn how to
design, conduct and make
appropriate conclusions about
nanoscience and nanotechnology?
On what knowledge do we evaluate
nanoscience and nanotechnology
developments?

http://www.serif.com/education/
Who teaches the
nanotechnology
technicians what to
do and how to do it?
More Questions

How do we know that the information about
nanotechnology is accurate?

Is this nanotechnology safe for the
environment, for you? Who’s conducting the
tests to make these determinations? How
reliable is their data?
Is
it appropriate to use these
materials, socially, ethically?
It Takes Education!
Education should be our highest priority.
From the previous questions you can see that
the issues are complex. The effects of our
decisions are far-reaching ecologically,
socially and economically.


Making appropriate decisions requires skill and a
strong educational foundation.
The directions and priorities of our education
systems will impact will determine the future
strength and prosperity of our country.
http://www.campusaccess.com/
1. Public Education
& Curriculum
Since it is difficult to learn about things that
we can’t see at the nanoscale, hands-on and
online resources help younger students
visual and become engaged in meaningful
nanoscience.
Podcasts, cable TV news stories,
live presentation videos, labs and
museums can stimulate an interest
in science and nanotechnology.
Schools need funding to provide
these more stimulating forms of
curriculum.
http://www.mec.edu/
http://www.mise.org/mise/index.jsp
And the Public
These museums, broadcasts and other public
educational opportunities will provide important
nanoscience knowledge to the general public.
This will enable an
educated public to make
appropriate decisions
about using
nanotechnology.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/gallatin/?page=education
http://www.mise.org/mise/index.jsp
Teenagers are Expensive!
As students become teenagers
they become sophisticated
media consumers and the most
expensive and ‘hard to reach’.
At this age, 8 to 18, career options
and an awareness of science and
technology-oriented fields help
students become aware of
nanoscience careers. But let’s face it.
Kids at this age are less interested in
school than other things.
http://www.campusaccess.com/
http://www.cviog.uga.edu/services/education/
http://www.cvs.k12.mi.us/rcummins/scienceolympiad/
Where’s The Money For It?
Engaging interactive learning,
based on nano-sciences and
nanotechnology, encourages
comprehension and retention of
new skills. That means more
interactive online programs and
more labs. It would be great to take
field trips to science museums,
too! Of course, all of this may be
more entertaining than reading the
textbook. But all of this requires
plenty of money!
http://www.goshen.edu/.cWtools/download.php/mnF=comp_studying.jpg,mnOD=Pictures,mnOD=My%20Documents,dc=computers
cience,dc=www,dc=goshen,dc=edu
Besides…
As we develop any new technology we must address
questions concerning these issues:
•Potential
and
preventable
•Safeguards
risks
for workers
•Justice
and
fairness
•Intellectual
property
•Respect for
individuals
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplore/login.jsp?url=/iel5/5/27802/012400
84.pdf?arnumber=1240084
http://www.aictec.edu.au/aictec/go
http://nano.foe.org.au/image/view/222
The Impact on Society
To address these impacts on
society:
1) We must incorporating ethics
research into nanoscience
research and development
2) Incorporate public feedback
into research and development
3) Educational efforts at every
level should address technical,
ethics, social and environmental
implications or innovations.
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplore/login.jsp?url=/iel5/5/27802/01240084.pdf?arnumber=1240084
http://www.sweden.se/templates/cs/FactSheet____16958.aspx
Higher Education
In the past, students often would major in
biology or chemistry. But much of
nanoscience is on the cusp between the
sciences, say between biology and
chemistry, or geology and physics, such
as nanomaterials, nanophotonics,
nanoelectronics and nanobiotechnology.
Since nanotechnology is
interdisciplinary, we need to
develop curricula that breaks the
barriers between the disciplines.
Only in that way can we grow
our future nanotechnologists.
Institute of Nanotechnology in Stirling, U.K
http://www.nanotech-now.com/columns/?article=179
Images : http://www.campusaccess.com/ and
http://www.sweden.se/templates/cs/FactSheet____16958.aspx
http://www.impactlab.com/2008/05/08/nanotech-venture-capital-is-out-of-sync-with-returns/
World
Leadership
If the United States hopes to become a world leader
in nanoscience in a way that address the needs of
the environment and our social values, we need
funding to explore how ideas in nanoscience and
nanotechnology can be incorporated into the
classroom at all levels.
http://www.csuci.edu/exed/
http://www.ntxscied.net/
http://www.nanovera.com/nanovera_science.htm
2. Graduate
Research
Developments in nanotechnology require
input from different disciplines, a wide
range of facilities and techniques.
Nanoscience research and development
also requires sophisticated and
expensive specialized facilities.
Scientists need to share laboratories in
universities, businesses and within
government facilities to accomplish
their research. Funding and trained is
necessary to buy and operate this
specialized equipment.
http://eric.bachard.free.fr/news/
http://www.mec.edu/profdev/profintro.cfm
http://www.voyle.net/2006%20Electronics/Nano%20Electronics-2006-099+049.htm
Workforce
Training
Training people is a key for longterm success.


We need an educating
nanotechnology workforce.
Highly specialized workers are in
demand, and candidates with on-thejob experience are highly prized.
This, too, requires a great
deal of funding.
http://www.britishcouncil.org/arts-film-education.htm http://nanoarchitecture.net/images/720.jpg
http://www.solarserver.de/solarmagazin/images/nano_iws_270.jpg
Nanoscience Education is a
National Goal
The 21st century Nanotechnology
Research and Development Act states
that the National Nanotechnology
Program will include…
“effective education and training for
researchers and professionals skilled
in the interdisciplinary perspectives
necessary for nanotechnology so that
a true interdisciplinary research
culture for nanoscale science,
engineering, and technology can
emerge.”
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgibin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=108_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ153.108
http://www.greaterhoustonsigns.org/EducationEvents/tabid/86/Default.aspx
But We Need Money!
Part of The NNI, National
Nanotechnology Initiative, focuses
on


Developing educational resources,
A skilled workforce,



http://wcc.warren.k12.in.us/courseofferings/adultcontinuingedu.asp
http://www.poerink.nl/jongepoerink/Products/Tiger/tabid/241/Default.aspx
Developing he supporting
infrastructure,
Tools needed to advance
nanotechnology,
Presently a great deal of our funds
address developing nanotechnology
education at all levels.
What is
Nanotechnology?
What would life be like without cars or
trucks? Cars revolutionized society, the
economy and technology. And that was
just one small part of the industrial
revolution.
We are now at a threshold of a
new revolution, a revolution in
the ways in which materials
and products are created.
http://www.apecforesight.org/apec_wide/nano_education.cfm
Image: 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 Devices
Nanotechnology is the
fabrication and use of devices
at the nanometer (a billionth
of a meter). At that scale we
are creating and using
materials and devices on a
molecular and atomic scale.
http://www.frequencyclear.tv/index7.html
image: live bovine cell with nanocrystal highlights :http://www.futureforall.org/nanotechnology/nanotechnology.htm
Interdisciplinary
Training
Researchers and technologists are approaching
nanotechnology from different directions and require
interdisciplinary training:
In physics, microelectronics are getting smaller.
In chemistry, new catalyst, membrane sensor and
coatings create structures from the atomic and
molecular levels.
In biology, living systems can be
combined with non-living
nanostructured materials.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2002/15jan_nano.htm
To Be More Specific…
http://www.apecforesight.org/apec_wide/nano_education.cfm
http://soe.ku.edu/ct/programs/Science_Education.php
Choices
Nanotechnology is so diverse that
its effects will result in social,
economic and environmental
changes as great as the invention
of the car.
How we, as educated or
uneducated consumers, use
nanotechnology will determine
the impact of nanoscience on
the human population and the
world.
http://arapaho.nsuok.edu/~adams001/
http://www.atlantykron.org/program.htm
Nanoscience and nanotechnology are leading to a technological
revolution.

All sectors of the economy and society will be profoundly influenced.

Governments around the world are investing large amounts in
research.
There is a growing demand for scientists and engineers trained in an
interdisciplinary approach to research and production in
nanotechnology.
 So when considering the importance of nanotechnology education of
http://www.atlantykron.org/program.htm
our citizens…

"The best time to plant a tree is
twenty years ago. The second best
time is now."
Chinese Proverb
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ntImages/1.jpg
Planning Your
Presentation
To prepare for your
presentation, answer
these questions using
reference materials
which can include the
websites linked to this
webquest:
1. What can be done to
maximize the chances that
humans will benefit from,
rather than be harmed by
these new developments?
2. If we can develop these
technologies, should we?
Why?
http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2007/02/15/PH2007021502068.jpg
http://www.presentationalspeaking.com/images/pic_2.jpg
Social, Environmental and
Ethical Concerns
1. Might these nanotechnology developments in
education infringe on human rights?
2. Could any of them decrease privacy of individuals?
3. Could the use of nanotechnology for education have
unwanted and negative environmental effects?
4. What economic impact could the use of
nanotechnology in education have on producers,
consumers, and other industries? Might they be
negative or positive?
What About Your Rights?
If so, are these developments
more important than
•Your privacy?
•Your rights as a citizen?
•Your rights as a human being?
Are the answers somewhere in between?
Education Websites
The general website page linked below is full of
nanotechnology sites related to multiple areas including
yours. After exhausting these resources you may also
wish to use your search engine and appropriate key words
and phrases to find more information.
General Nanoscience Weblinks
More Help
If you would like help breaking down
your research into steps, click on the
help button for an outline.