Hands-on Workshops
Thanks to NSF grant DUE-2000725, NACK offers multiple hands-on workshop. Whether you need introductory information to the world of nano, are ready to implement nano-concepts into your classroom, or are interested in implementing a full nanotechnology program at your institution, these are great cutting-edge knowledge, professional development opportunities at no cost to you!
Upcoming Workshops
Low Cost Nanotechnology Hands-on Workshop
Sponsored by MNT-EC, this 3-day workshop (May 5 – 7, 2025) will feature hands-on nanotechnology lab activities in a teaching cleanroom. In some cases, low-cost alternatives that can be used for both outreach and education have been developed. These low-cost alternatives will be demonstrated and discussed with workshop attendees.
Presenters: Zachary Gray, Treylor Shirley
Dates: May 5 – 7, 2025
Location: Penn State Campus, State College, PA
Additional workshop details, hotel information, and financial support details* will be communicated in your confirmation email.
*US citizens will be eligible for a travel stipend.
Deadline: March 28, 2025
Archived Recordings
Introduction to Nanotechnology for Educators
How small is a nanometer? What makes nanotechnology so special, interesting, and unique? How is nanotechnology impacting us today and into the future? How do we see what we cannot see? How do we make things at the nanoscale? What education and career paths are available in nanotechnology? Learn the answers to these questions and more at our Intro to Nanotechnology for Educators Workshop.
Nanotechnology is at the frontier of chemistry, biology, biophysics, materials science, engineering … just about any STEM discipline. Electronics, energy, construction, medicine, agriculture, consumer products, and even fashion are all benefiting from innovations at the nanoscale. STEM education cannot ignore this integral avenue of research and career advancement. Discover activities and content you can use to create your Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)-aligned lessons or workforce development programming.
Session topics include:
• What is nano? – A basic understanding of nanotechnology and why it matters.
• Properties and phenomena – Unique properties that can be found at the nanoscale and how they can be different than what we think of as “normal”.
• Fabrication – How does one fabricate products at the nanoscale?
• Characterization – Looking into some of the more common instruments used in nanotechnology.
• Applications – Some of the ways that nanotechnology is being used to help our everyday lives.
• Opportunities – What additional information and resources are available for the nanotechnology community.
Nano-Educators Topical Seminar Series
Please join us for a more in-depth dive of select nanotechnology topics, including resources and tips on how to share these ideas with your students. This series consists of 16 self-contained topics.
Session of the topics are listed below:
• Optical Lithography
• Wave-Based Characterization
• Plasma Technology
• Microelectromechanical Systems
• Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscopy and Ebeam Lithography
• Transmission Electron Microscopy
• Microfluidics
• Nano-medicine