Nanotechnology in Education

and Basic Research

Public Education & Curriculum

Graduate Research

Workforce Training

How does small science help produce big ideas?

From museums to

colleges, from

professors to

factory workers,

from researchers to

businessmen, from

kindergarteners to

PhDs.

http://www.wsu.edu/artmuse/images/MuseumFrontDineHeads.jpg

http://www.havenscandies.com/images/Factory%20tour.jpg

How Big Is Nano?

http://www.terressentials.com/exposure.html

This is one

nanometer!

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.

http://ctl.sri.com/publications/downloads/NanoEdSystem_v11.pdf

Image: http://www.skinners-school.co.uk/?page=page&function=science%20specialism

Goal 3. Develop educational resources, a

skilled workforce, and the supporting

infrastructure and tools to advance

nanotechnology.

Goal 4. Support responsible development of

nanotechnology.

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!

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/

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.

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.

http://www.mec.edu/

http://www.mise.org/mise/index.jsp

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.

And the Public

These museums, broadcasts and other public

educational opportunities will provide important

nanoscience knowledge to the general public.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/gallatin/?page=education

http://www.mise.org/mise/index.jsp

This will enable an

educated public to make

appropriate decisions

about using

nanotechnology.

Teenagers are Expensive!

http://www.campusaccess.com/

http://www.cviog.uga.edu/services/education/

http://www.cvs.k12.mi.us/rcummins/scienceolympiad/

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.

Where‟s The Money For It?

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

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!

Besides…

As we develop any new technology we must address questions concerning these issues:

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplore/login.jsp?url=/iel5/5/27802/01240084.pdf?arnumber=1240084

http://www.aictec.edu.au/aictec/go

http://nano.foe.org.au/image/view/222

•Intellectual

property

•Potential

and

preventable

risks

•Justice

and

fairness

•Respect for

individuals

•Safeguards

for workers

The Impact on Society

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplore/login.jsp?url=/iel5/5/27802/01240084.pdf?arnumber=1240084

http://www.sweden.se/templates/cs/FactSheet____16958.aspx

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.

To address these impacts on

society:

Higher Education

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=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/

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 andchemistry, or geology and physics, such as nanomaterials, nanophotonics, nanoelectronics and nanobiotechnology.

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

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.cfmhttp://www.voyle.net/2006%20Electronics/Nano%20Electronics-2006-099+049.htm

Developments in nanotechnology require

input from different disciplines, a wide

range of facilities and techniques.

Workforce

Training

We need an educating nanotechnology workforce.

Highly specialized workers are in demand, and candidates with on-the-job experience are highly prized.

http://www.britishcouncil.org/arts-film-education.htm http://nanoarchitecture.net/images/720.jpg

http://www.solarserver.de/solarmagazin/images/nano_iws_270.jpg

http://cpd.conted.ox.ac.uk/nanotechnology/news.asp

Training people is a key for long-

term success.

This, too, requires a great deal of funding.

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/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=108_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ153.108

http://www.greaterhoustonsigns.org/EducationEvents/tabid/86/Default.aspx

http://www.lbl.gov/Publications/annual-report/2005-2006/files/03-nanofrontiers-1.html

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.

http://www.apecforesight.org/apec_wide/nano_education.cfm

Image: http://www.biojobblog.com/2007/12/articles/biotraining/uh-oh-here-we-go-againus-falls-further-behind-in-science-education/

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/05/pixar_cars/source/9.htm

We are now at a threshold of a

new revolution, a revolution in

the ways in which materials

and products are created.

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:

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2002/15jan_nano.htm

In biology, living systems can be

combined with non-living

nanostructured materials.

In chemistry, new catalyst, membrane sensor and

coatings create structures from the atomic and

molecular levels.

In physics, microelectronics are getting smaller.

To Be More Specific…

http://www.apecforesight.org/apec_wide/nano_education.cfm

http://soe.ku.edu/ct/programs/Science_Education.php

Choices

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

Nanotechnology is so diverse that

its effects will result in social,

economic and environmental

changes as great as the invention

of the car.

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 our citizens…

"The best time to plant a tree is

twenty years ago. The second best

time is now."

Chinese Proverbhttp://www.adonisconstruction.co.uk/Content/Conte

ntImages/1.jpg

Planning Your

Presentation

http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2007/02/15/PH2007021502068.jpg

http://www.presentationalspeaking.com/images/pic_2.jpg

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?

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.