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Nanotechnology Education Activities at UNM's NNIN Site
(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.
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