Nanotechnology Education Activities at UNM's NNIN Site

The University of New Mexico (UNM) is engaged in many activities designed to educate and encourage the next generation of nanoscientists and to improve the understanding of science and technology amoung New Mexico's uniquely diverse communities.

Post-Secondary Activities

Nanoscience and Microsystems (NSMS) Degree Program
UNM is one of the first universities in the country to offer a M.S. and Ph.D. in this emerging discipline. The interdisciplinary program involves more than 70 faculty in nine academic departments. It has three technical thrusts: Informational Nanotechnology, Nano-Bio Interfaces, and Complex Functional Systems. The integrated academic and research activities of the program highlight UNM's capabilities and unique breadth in materials synthesis and self-assembly, nanolithography, interrogative platforms, and functional micro/macrosystems. Special emphasis is placed on translating these technologies to radically change the way we diagnose, treat and ultimately prevent cancer. New Mexico State and New Mexico Tech support the degree program by offering additional classes.

Societal and Ethical Implications of Nanotechnology Class
The NSMS core curriculum includes this 400/500 level course that prepares students for the rapidly evolving, multidisciplinary field of nanotechnology by developing the insight necessary to take an ethically responsible position when faced with unprecedented circumstances. An initial web-based version of the course has been completed, and we're currently reviewing it for release in 2008.

The Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) Program
This program seeks to train Ph.D. scientists and engineers with the interdisciplinary background and the technical, professional and personal skills needed to address the global questions of the future. Through the use of innovative curricula and internships, and by focusing on problem-centered training, these programs give their graduates the edge needed to become leaders in their chosen fields. Two UNM IGERT programs focus on nanoscience: Cross Disciplinary Nanoscience and Microsystems and Integrating Nanotechnology with Cell Biology and Neuroscience.

Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
We believe that bringing the experience of research to talented students is crucial to developing the scientific community of the future. Each summer we welcome undergraduate students to our campus for nine weeks to conduct a research project and receive training in research tools and methodology. From 2004-2006 UNM NNIN hosted nine students working with eight faculty. UNM's Center For Micro-Engineered Materials has also been a site for the NSF REU and DOD ASSURE programs in nanotechnology. These projects are also interdisciplinary and use state-of-the-art equipment within the Center and the Advanced Materials Laboratory, a facility operated jointly by UNM and Sandia National Laboratories. More than 160 students have participated in these REU programs over the last 13 years.

Professional Workshops
UNM hosted the Nanoscale Epitaxial Semiconductor Structures workshop in September 2007. Co-sponsored by NNIN and the DOE Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, the workshop focused on the epitaxial growth, characterization and device results of nanoscale epitaxial structures. In 2006 UNM's Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences conducted the Workshop on Nanoscale Processes in the Earth and Planetary Sciences, which brought together interested researchers working on earth and planetary materials to review and discuss the current state of the art of nanoscience in the geoscience community and to increase awareness of the facilities available for nanoscience research in the NSF-NNIN network.

NanoCafé
The monthly NanoCafé provides an opportunity for the nanoscience community to exchange ideas in an informal atmosphere and to present research findings and outreach experiences. Speakers at the first meeting in October 2007 were Justine Johannes, Sandia National Laboratories on the "National Institute for Nanoengineering Education"; John Grey, Assistant Professor of Chemistry at UNM on "Uncovering Structure-Function Relationships at Heterojunction Interfaces in Molecular Photovoltaic Materials;" and Adam Wise, IGERT fellow and Ph.D. student, on "Nano Outreach - helping create the next generation of nanoscientists."

Teacher and Community Outreach

Classroom visits
In conjunction with NNIN, UNM graduate students in the IGERT program have developed an interactive "Nanoshow" of activities that they take to secondary classrooms and pueblos in the Albuquerque area. Students and staff also participate as judges in science fairs. We are developing cosmetics-related activities for planned visits to 7th grade science classes in the Albuquerque High School cluster, which provides services to some of the poorest and most under-represented groups in Albuquerque.

Teacher Workshops
We hand out lesson plans, brochures, posters and samples of materials to secondary teachers at the annual open house organized by four Albuquerque museums. At the conference of the New Mexico Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the New Mexico Science Teachers Association, we demonstrate nanoscience and distribute materials. We are also planning a three-day nanoscience workshop for teachers and a one-day workshop aimed at middle school science teachers on the nanoscience behind cosmetics. More information about Teacher Workshops is here.

NanoCamp
We are partnering with the Albuquerque Academy and their Multicultural Summer Honors program to develop a 3 week combined teacher workshop and summer camp for students entering 5th -8th grade. In summer 2008, secondary teachers will learn and develop nano-activities in the morning and then work with students in the afternoon. Ten spaces (out of 30) are reserved for scholarship students from Native American and predominately Hispanic schools.

Curriculum Development
Through our teacher workshops, classroom visits and NanoCamp we are developing several classroom activities and teacher guides.

We have also linked lessons based on existing nanoscience teachers' guides to NM state standards. Access these here.

Community Outreach
We conduct hands-on activities, distribute educational literature and materials and talk with people about nanoscience at several venues. One of the most successful is at the New Mexico state fair. This is a wonderful way to reach families from rural areas as well as students from predominately Hispanic and Native American schools. NNIN also has a strong presence at Celebra la Ciencia events throughout the year, and at UNM open houses and tours, especially at the Center for High Technology Materials (CHTM), which has relationships with several high school science programs aimed at underrepresented minorities. Other activities include a nanoscience lecture for senior citizens in continuing education and nanoexhibits. UNM is partnering with the New Mexico Museum of Natural History to bring an NNIN traveling exhibit "Too Small to See" to Albuquerque this fall.

For more information contact Stefi Weisburd