National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure
Research Experience for Teachers (RET)
Experience the excitement of nanotechnology research at the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI) Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program at the University of Nebraska. During the program, each participant will develop an instructional unit based on their experience to share with students and peers. This 6-week program is for high school teachers and technical college faculty that teach science or technology and are within driving distance of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus.
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Upward Bound High School Camp
NNF partnered with the Upward Bound program to bring a summer NanoPhysics camp to 10th- and 11th-grade students from local high schools. The camp included tours of nano-related research at NNF facilities and hands-on activities on the ever-growing field of nanoscience during the 3-day event.
NanoDays
NNF fostered public awareness of nanoscience and nanoengineering through Lincoln’s annual NanoDays event at the Gateway Shopping Center. This event is also sponsored by NCMN, Nebraska EPSCoR, and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC).
Nebraska Teacher Conferences
NCMN and NNF partnered with the College of Engineering at the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Engineering Conference to provide nanoscience information and hands-on activities to over 150 teachers, school administrators, industry reps, government officials, and university faculty, staff, and students. The PLTW curriculum, cited by the Harvard Graduate School of Education as a "model for 21st century career and technical education," is founded on fundamental problem-solving and critical-thinking skills taught in traditional career and technical education (CTE), while integrating national academic and technical learning standards and STEM principles. Nanoscience is a very relevant part of these project-based engineering courses for elementary, middle, and high school students.
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
A 10-week summer research fellowship provided undergraduate students with an opportunity for interdisciplinary research in a nanoscale science or engineering laboratory on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus. Faculty mentors came from the chemistry, physics, and engineering departments.
K-8 Students
After-School Program
Faculty members, students, and staff provide regular nanoscience-related after-school programming during the school year. The one-hour presentations include videos, hands-on activities, giveaways, and discussions of nano applications, which provide a broad overview of nanoscience/nanotechnology as a field with many career opportunities. Students gain a more comprehensive understanding through activities that introduce them to the unique properties at the nanoscale. Presenting professors will represent various departments, including chemistry, engineering, and physics, with help from NCMN undergraduate outreach fellows and NNF staff.
NanoArt Competition
Plenty of Beauty at the Bottom
On October 9th, the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI) hosted their annual Plenty of Beauty at the Bottom image contest in honor of National Nanotechnology Day. Referencing Richard Feynman’s 1959 lecture, "There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom," this image contest celebrates the beauty of the micro and nanoscale. Images featured in this contest were produced at one of the 16 NNCI sites during the past two years. Sites from across the NNCI contribute stunning, unique, and whimsical images of the micro and nanoscale for the image contest. First place winning artists will receive up to $1,000 in travel support to a professional conference of their choice and their sites receive a framed print of their winning image. Honorable mentions will receive a framed print of their image.
The image above is an example of NanoArt, and was the NNCI winner in the 'Most Stunning' category. Titled "A Micro Blooming Lotus," this image was created by Aofei Mao and Peixun Fan, using a Nanoscribe Photonic Professional GT and Hitachi S4700 field emission scanning electron microscope.
NNF Equipment Training Minicourse
NNF annually holds a free three-day in-person equipment training minicourse. Specialists teach hands-on training at our facilities on UNL's City Campus, which usually takes place in the fall.
Attendees will gain first-hand knowledge of the potential benefits for their research and development activities, as well as how to become users of the facilities. They will choose two pieces of equipment to train on.
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Traveling Nano Exhibit
“Nano” is an exciting exhibition that communicates the extremely small scale of nanoscience and how interactions among materials at this tiny level shape our world in powerful ways. This 400-square-foot exhibit traveled to six museums across Nebraska. The exhibit was created by NISE Net—the National Informal STEM Education Network and sponsored by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience (NCMN) and Nebraska EPSCoR.
Summer STEM Camp
Each summer, NNF offers Nano/STEM classes at local middle schools, serving hundreds of students! Information includes videos, hands-on activities, giveaways, and discussions of scientific applications, providing a broad overview of Nano/STEM fields and the many career opportunities they offer. Students gain a more comprehensive understanding through activities that introduce them to STEM concepts.
NNF Nanoscience Camp Partnership
Tenth-grade students from Grand Island and Omaha high schools participated in a summer Nanoscience Camp sponsored by Nebraska EPSCoR held on the UNL campus. Part of the camp included tours of nano-related research in faculty labs and of NNF equipment facilities. Students are part of the Nebraska College Prep Academy, a science/math focus program that encourages high school graduation and the pursuit of a post-secondary degree.
