This year's 5th Annual Nanotechnology Conference was organized by Dr. Glen Miller and Susan Greenberg and held at the University of New Hampshire on April 8th, 2009.  The keynote address was given by Peter D. Spohn, the Enabling Technologies Manager for Velcro Corporation and discussed the development and manufacturing of new materials that make use of new developments in nanotechnology. Four presentations were also given during two sessions and were attended by 47 teachers of grade levels K-12.

Presentations given at the 5th Annual K-12 Teacher Nanotechnology Conference:

“Nanostructured Carbons—The Stuff of Nanotechnology.”  Nanotechnology involves the formation and manipulation of nanoscale objects in order to create useful devices.  In several emerging nanotechnologies, the nanoscale objects of choice are nanostructured carbons.  Nanostructured carbons include fullerene (i.e., buckminsterfullerene or buckyball), carbon nanotubes (e.g., single wall carbon nanotubes and multi-wall carbon nanotubes) and graphene (i.e., a single sheet of graphite).  In this presentation, fullerenes, nanotubes, graphene and a few other nanostructured carbon forms will be introduced.  They will then be described in the context of several emerging nanotechnologies.  Thus, the use of fullerenes in thin-film organic        photovoltaics (solar cells), the use of single wall carbon nanotubes as sensors, the use of multi-wall carbon nanotubes in high strength, lightweight structural composites, and the use of graphene as an ultra thin-film transistor will all be described. 

Glen Miller, Professor of Chemistry, Associate Director of the Center for High- rate Nanomanufacturing, Class of 1944 Professor of Organic Chemistry and  Materials Science, University of New Hampshire.

“New ways to see and build nano-gadgets from designer molecules.”  If the machines we want to build have active components of the size of atoms and molecules, fundamentally new ways of manufacturing have to be discovered.  Bottom-up approaches hold a great promise to revolutionize medicine and engineering.  We will be exploring the formation of two-dimensional ordered arrays of molecules that build themselves by a process called molecular self-assembly.  By adjusting the length of the molecules legs the mesh size can be controlled with practical  applications ranging from biological sensors to photovoltaic and quantum computing.

Karsten Pohl, Assoc. Professor of Physics, and the Material Science Program, University of New Hampshire

 “Hands-on Nano: Activities and Tools for Teaching Nanotechnology.” 
Teaching nanotechnology poses unique challenges: How can we engage newcomers in a field that revolves around super-small particles and unfamiliar physical principles?  How can we introduce students to a subject that simultaneously incorporates ideas from chemistry, physics, biology and engineering?  Alex Fiorentino of the Museum of Science, Boston will demonstrate some of the tools and ideas that science museums use to teach nanotechnology.  Attendees will have a chance to try out hands-on nanotech. activities and explore other resources that are available for free through the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network.

Alex Fiorentino, Education Associate, Nanoscale Science & Engineering Center, Museum of Science, Boston

“How can sunscreen be Nanotechnology? Chemical encapsulation at work with other examples..”  This workshop investigates what encapsulation looks like at the nano level, and discusses examples of current products that use this process and what it means for new products being researched and other applications.  There are experiments that can be done at the middle/high school level that allow students to see the time release application of these products.  Participants will see how molecules react and how they are isolated when encapsulated.  There are an immense amount of uses, and the polymers used for encapsulation are always being researched.

Christina Talbot, Harvard University RET, Florida Virtual School Teacher

“New Nano-Fastening Solutions”.
 The Velcro Company, a NH based manufacturing company, is focused on fastening technologies.  Most people know Velcro® brand hook and loop fasteners from their everyday exposure to the product.  What is not as readily apparent are all of the newer applications where the product is not visible.  All of the new applications for hook and loop are engineered solutions to a fastening problem.  In order to remain competitive and to continue to grow, new fastening solutions must be identified, evaluated, and optimized. This workshop illustrates several concepts that are being evaluated to develop and manufacture new materials based on carbon nanotubes.

Peter D. Spohn, Ph.D, Enabling Technologies Manager, Velcro Group Corporation
Keynote Speaker

4th Annual K-12 Teachers Nanotechnology Conference

The 4th Annual K-12 Teacher Nanotechnology Conference was organized by Susan Greenberg and Glen Miller and
held at the University of New Hampshire on April 9th, 2008.  Jackie Isaacas, Associate Professor of Mechanical and Industrial
Engineering, and Associate Director for the Center of High-rate Nanomanufacturing at Northeastern University delivered the
keynote address which was titled, "Teaching Nanoscale Principles through Game Play."  The talk focused on educational video
game targeted at children ages 10-14, called Geckoman. Geckoman teaches the scientific principles of nanotechnology and
shows children how to differentiate between the nano- and the macro- scale.  The conference also featured 6 nanotech
presentations divided into two sessions, and was attended by 50 New Hampshire teachers representing all grade levels, from
elementary to high school.

Presentations Given at the 4th Annual K-12 Teacher Nanotechnology Conference:

"Environmental Impacts of Nanotechnology". This presentation provides a brief overview of the environmental impacts of
nanotechnology.  Specifically, it covers the positive impacts of using nanoiron for
groundwater remediation, and the potential negative impacts of discharging carbon
nanotubes into publicly owned treatment works. 

 Xiaoqi (Jackie) Zhang, Associate Professor, Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering;
Co-director, Center for Complex Environmental Systems;
Coordinator, Graduate Certificate of Nanotechnology,
University of Massachusetts Lowell

“Very Thin Films and Very Small Structures.”  Many devices and surfaces that we use daily have thin film coatings that are used to improve their properties.  Examples include optical coatings on lenses and window glass, wear-resistant decorative coatings on jewelry and tools, and electronic devices.  This workshop explores trends in thin film coatings as dimensions shrink into the nanoscale regime, creating opportunities for new devices and applications. 

Jim Harper, Professor of Physics, Materials Science Program, University of New Hampshire

"Computer Molecular Modeling: A Window into the Nano and Molecular World.” This presentation gives an introduction to the field of molecular modeling.  Current software permits the construction and visualization of sophisticated models for molecular structures and chemical reactions – from DNA to nanotubes.  These molecular models are now widely applied in both research and teaching.  This workshop includes how these models can be applied in the classroom, and gives examples of research being done at UNH.

Richard Johnson, Norman and Marie Waite Professor of Chemistry, University of New Hampshire

"Nanotechnology: The Social and Ethical Issues” This workshop focuses primarily on the social and ethical issues associated with emerging nanotechnologies: What they are, why they matter, and what can be done to address them, and also discusses other aspects of responsible development of nanotechnology. 

Ron Sandler, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Philosophy and Religion, College of Arts and Sciences, Northeaster University

Exploring the Nano-World that will Build Itself”  This workshop examines the quest of building smaller and smaller machines for technologies that might revolutionize medicine and engineering as we explore new paths that have not been traveled before. It disucsses the paradigm shift that is upon us in which we replace classical manufacturing techniques, based on tools and hands, with processes in which nano-machines will build themselves - molecule-by-molecule. Participants will learn about 'directed self-assembly' and meet the instruments that make the discoveries of the new nano-world possible.

Karsten Pohl, Associate Professor of Physics, and the Material Science Program, University of New Hampshire

When Molecules Can Stick Together in Many Ways, Who Wins?” This workshop demonstrates how we have modeled several possible scenarios for molecules self assemblng on a solid surface, and how often, the competition between different types of molecule-molecule interaction and molecule-solid interaction produces surprising patterns.

Howard Mayne, Professor of Physical Chemistry, University of New Hampshire

"NanoDays Hands-on Actvities” This workshop gives a sampling of the hands-on activities that appeared in an exhibit at the Boston Museum of Science.. Online resources for additional demos and a showcase of other activities that have been used successfully are also given.

Lisa Regalla, Education Associate, Nanoscale Science & Engineering Center, Museum of Science, Boston 

“Teaching Nanoscale Principles through Game Play” Funded by the National Science Foundation, the Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing (CHN) (in collaboration with Metaversal Studios, a company specializing in educational games), has created an educational videogame targeted at children ages 10-14. The game, Geckoman, teaches scientific principles of nanotechnology and helps children differentiate between the nanoscale and the macroscale. The premise of Geckoman is that through an explosion of an incredible shrinking machine, budding scientist Harold is shrunk to the nanoscale. His lab partner, Nikki, helps him navigate three “worlds”, beginning at the nanoscale and growing slightly larger until returning to normal size. Before exiting each level in all three “worlds”, Harold must also pick up one of Nikki’s notebook pages, which were scattered in the explosion. The notebook pages provide short tips and lessons that are mapped to national and Massachusetts state K-12 science and engineering standards. Game play is also demonstrated.

Jackie Isaacs, Associate Professor, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering,
Associate Director for the Center of High-rate Nanomanufactoring, Northeastern University

For more information about the Annual K-12 Teachers Nanotechnology Conference, contact Sue Greenberg.

Partial support provided by NSF grant #  EPS-0701730