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Center for Nanotechnology Education and Utilization
-Bulletin -
June - July 2006 |
The CNEU Mission
The CNEU is dedicated to research, development, and education across all aspects of micro- and nanotechnology. The Center resources are focused on addressing the incorporation of nanotechnology into secondary education, into post-secondary education, and into industry applications.
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| The Penn State Center for Nanotechnology Education and Utilization ( CNEU ) is the home of the Pennsylvania Nanofabrication Manufacturing Technology (NMT) Partnership, and the NSF Advanced Technology Education (ATE) Center for Nanofabrication Manufacturing Education. It is also the Penn State home of the NSF National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN), the national NSF nanotechnology resource for enabling academic and industry R&D. |
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For more information on these highlights or on the NMT Partnership in general, please contact:
Bob Ehrmann
(814) 865-7558 rke2@psu.edu
Lisa Daub
(814) 865-9635 ldaub@engr.psu.edu |
Upcoming Activities
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NMT Partnership Career Fair: The Pennsylvania NMT Partnership will be holding a Career Fair on Thursday, September 28, 2006 at University Park. This event will bring together Pennsylvania employers, students enrolled in the capstone semester, and alumni of the NMT capstone semester. Registration can be accomplished via the CNEU website. For further information please contact Darlene Fink at 814-863-2955 or dfink@engr.psu.edu.
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NMT Partnership Industry Outreach Initiative: In collaboration with area NMT Partners, a series of Industry Outreach Meetings entitled “Competitive Modern Manufacturing through Nanotechnology” are presently scheduled or are in the planning stages at various locations across the Commonwealth in the upcoming months. The desired outcome for this initiative is to reach as many companies as possible to share: a beginning understanding of nanotechnology, the current and forecasted impact of nanotechnology upon the marketplace, and to make them aware of the nanotechnologist worker pool available to them through the NMT Partnership. Please contact Bob Ehrmann at 814-865-7558 (rehrmann@engr.psu.edu) or Darlene Fink at 814-863-2955 (dfink@engr.psu.edu) for additional information.
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Workshop at the Commercialization of NanoMaterials 2006 Conference: Center personnel will perform a pre-conference workshop at the Commercialization of NanoMaterials Conference at 1 PM on Monday September 18 at the Hilton Hotel, in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Commercialization of NanoMaterials 2006 (September 18-20) will provide the unique opportunity for dialogue among industry, small business, academia and government to understand each others’ needs and the opportunities for nanomaterials solutions.
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Hands-On Nanofabrication Workshop for Educators: Mark your calendars for the next offering of this workshop. Registration continues for the November 14-16, 2006, three-day Hands-On Nanofabrication Workshop for Educators. Participants will learn about the growing applications of nanotechnology in many industries including the biotechnology, MEMs, optoelectronics, chemical and electronics industries. The basics of nanofabrication processes and tools will be covered and practiced through a combination of classroom lectures and hands-on processing labs in the class 10 clean rooms of the Penn State Nanofabrication Facility. Please contact Darlene Fink at 814-863-2955 (dfink@engr.psu.edu) to register, or for further information. Workshop spaces fill up quickly, so please register as soon as possible.
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Recent Program Highlights for June - July 2006 |
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Summer Nanotech Camps: Twelve three-day Nanotechnology Introduction Camps were completed in June and July. The total attendance this year was 206 students and 50 chaperones. These Nanotech Introduction Camps, for students in 9th grade and above, serve as an acknowledged, excellent opportunity to learn about nanotechnology and nanofabrication. Again this year, processing, characterization, and applications of nanotechnology were covered and, careers were explored and educational pathways to nanofabrication careers were discussed. The agenda for this year was again improved to be even more interactive and fun, while still maintaining a high level of introductory level knowledge. Please keep these camps in mind for next summer. They fill up fast. Please remember that 1 day camp experiences are available throughout the year. Please contact Ms. Darlene Fink at dfink@engr.psu.edu for further information on available camp experiences.
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Nanotechnology in the Secondary Classroom Workshop: The CNEU hosted a third secondary educator's workshop on July 31st to August 2nd 2006. During the workshop staff members facilitated high school teachers as they created and tested nanotechnology laboratory experiences and activities to utilize back in their home classrooms during the upcoming academic year. The feedback from the attendees was positive and suggests that several of these activities will be integrated into the multiple scientific disciplines represented at the workshop. The intent of this activity is to increase student awareness and interest in science and technology in general and nanotechnology in particular.
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Capstone Semester Update: The summer 2006 Capstone Semester was recently completed by 25 students representing partner institutions from across the Commonwealth. The fall 2006 Capstone Semester will begin on Sept 5, 2006.
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National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN) Research Experience for Teachers (RET): The CNEU and Penn State Science Education Department hosted 2 in-service and 2 pre-service secondary teachers from Pennsylvania for a six week research experience beginning June 26, 2006 though August 4, 2006. The teachers experienced research first hand, collaborated with PSU research faculty, and helped to develop lesson plans and activities to be utilized back in their home classroom to assist in the teaching of science utilizing nanotechnology. Follow-up with these teachers will occur during the upcoming school year, where these teachers will continue to collaborate with CNEU and Science Education personnel on nanotechnology in-classroom activity development. This experience will culminate by participation at the National Science Teacher’s Association National Conference in the spring of 2007.
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National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program Convocation: The NNIN REU Convocation was held August 9-12 at Cornell University. The REU program brought together select undergraduate students from colleges and universities from across the nation who each performed a ten week summer research experience at one of the thirteen NNIN partner institutions. Penn State University hosted five of these students: Sonia Cortes-Jimenez (University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez), Esha Mathew (Cornell University), John Kroger (Georgia Institute of Technology), Myranda Martin (Lock Haven University), and Robert Patrick Martin (Erskine College). Congratulations to these students and all of the NNIN REU participants on a job well done.
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CNEU Educational Cleanroom Update: The CNEU Educational Cleanroom project encountered some unexpected administrative delays over the past several months. The cleanroom is very near completion. The new schedule calls for final hook-ups and installation during September, 2006. The facility is scheduled to be fully operational shortly thereafter. This “work in progress” facility has been populated with education size nanofabrication and nanocharacterization tools, and is being utilized for the capstone student laboratories, workshops, outreach opportunities, and remote tool access. A web cast from the new cleanroom is presently in the planning stages. More details regarding the web cast agenda and schedule will be announced in the near future.
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CNEU Website: The CNEU website (www.cneu.psu.edu) continues to be available as an aide to prospective students, parents, educators, counselors, and industry personnel. Highlighted website features include Nanotechnology Education Modules, Student and Industry Video testimonials, NMT Associate to Baccalaureate Pathways, and information, overviews of the NMT Partnership Capstone Semester as well as other CNEU programs and offerings.
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Nanoscience Learning Goals Workshop: Dr. Stephen Fonash was invited to participate in the Nanoscience Learning Goals Workshop held in Menlo Park California June 14-16, 2006. The event which was sponsored by the National Center for Learning and Teaching in Nanoscale Science and Engineering (NCLT) and SRI International brought together leading experts and practitioners in nanoscience, learning science, and science education to identify and clarify nanoscience learning goals.
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SAME-TEC 2006 Conference: Dr. Robert Myers attended the Semiconductor, Automated Manufacturing, Electronics - Training and Education Conference (SAME-TEC) conference held in Albuquerque, New Mexico from July 24-27. The conference theme, Networks for Success, focused on national networking and collaboration between education and industry partners to promote the viability of high tech industries through a highly skilled and knowledgeable workforce. |
CNEU Outreach: Outreach activities above during the June and July period, the Center received 281 visitors representing 18 organizations. Offsite and remote access presentations impacted an additional 168 + individuals and included presentations in Uniontown, Erie, Pittsburgh, and at LCCC, and California University of PA.
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Industry Outreach Initiative Highlights: Bill Mahoney and Bob Ehrmann traveled to Uniontown (June 9), Erie (June 15), and Pittsburgh (July 25) during the months of June and July to talk to companies in those regions about nanotechnology and the resources available through the CNEU for workforce education and training. Working with local industry councils, they organized early morning breakfast meetings and in total, talked to more than 100 people.
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Lehigh Carbon Community College Governor’s School: Amy Brunner was an invited speaker at the LCCC Governor’s School event (June 10, 2006) to an audience of 19 high school students and 27 parents. She gave a presentation about Nanotechnology and career opportunities to the student audience, lead a group activity where students investigated surface properties, and later spoke to the parents about the educational opportunities available to students through the Pennsylvania NMT partnership.
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Technology and Engineering Coalition to Heighten (TECH) Awareness Camp for Females: Amy Brunner was an invited presenter at the TECH Awareness Summer Camp (July 17, 2006) at California University of Pennsylvania that was attended by 22 female students currently in grades 9-12. Amy spoke about nanotechnology and shared her educational journey as a science major at Pennsylvania post secondary institution. The girls then participated in a nanotechnology activity.
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© 2007 Penn State University Center for Nanotechnology Education and Utilization