Search: 15 and up, Fundamentals

This program describes a weeklong summer camp for high school students. The camp does not assume any previous knowledge of the field and thus is open to students from all backgrounds. It is hands‐on; application based and also gives a broad overview to nanoscience/nanotechnology as a field with many career opportunities. Students are able to gain a comprehensive understanding through activities that introduce them to the unique properties at the nanoscale. Though lab‐tours, discussion groups on societal and ethical implications of nanoscience/nanotechnology and an open‐house at the conclusion of the camp where they present projects to families and friends, students are exposed to a wide variety of experiences.

This activity developed by NNIN explores how nanotechnology can be used to change the properties of a copper surface so that it either attracts or repels water. It is appropriate for middle school and high school students.

Creating Nanomaterials is an interactive, multimedia component of the Intro to Nanotechnology exhibit package that demonstrates how scientists are using the ability of molecules to self-assemble to create consumer goods with surprising properties. Visitors place and observe “molecules” on an air hockey table. When the air hockey table is activated, the “molecules” hover and assemble into patterns all by themselves—just like molecules in nanomaterials.

This hands-on activity will guide you in making a synthetic gecko tape with micron sized hairs that mimics that behavior of the gecko foot. The process is called "nanomolding." Also described is an easy setup using Legos for testing how much weight the gecko tape can hold. Significant amount of research is ongoing in the field of synthetic Gecko tape due to its wide variety of applications. This program gives a glimpse of one of the methods used by researchers for making a synthetic gecko tape and its properties.

At the Nanoscale is a static component that aims to show just how super small one billionth of a meter, or one nanometer, really is. A Billion Beads is an activity where visitors inspect tubes that hold quantities of one thousand tiny beads, one million beads, and one billion beads. To the naked eye, the tube containing one thousand beads appears nearly empty. Visitors see that the next tube, partially filled, contains one million beads. Finally, to compare, a four-foot tall container nearly full contains approximately one billion beads. This component is mounted to the backside of the Intro to Nanotechnology video kiosk.

"Nanotechnology: What's the Big Deal?" is a video introduction to the Intro to Nanotechnology exhibition. Get a broad overview of the unique challenges and opportunities presented by nanoscale science, and dive into the super tiny scale of nanotechnology.

What is Nanomedicine? This is the introductory component for the Nanomedicine exhibit package. The structure includes a text panel and a narrated-and-captioned 2.5 minute video which plays on demand in either English or Spanish on a 32-inch LCD screen. The video's colorful animation and researcher commentary complements the accompanying text panel to provide a brief overview of some of the basic ideas and goals of nanomedicine.

"NanoSense Activities" has 4 curriculum units to help high school teachers and students understand nanoscale science. Each unit includes background materials, directions and instructional materials. Units include: Size Matters - Introduction to Nanoscience, Clear Sunscreen - How Light Interacts with Matter, Clean Energy - Converting Light into Electricity, and Fine Filters - Filtering Solutions for Clean Water

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) produced a video podcast on the safe development of nanotechnology, as part of their series of nano educational podcasts. The video features University of Michigan's Risk Science Center director Andrew Maynard. The video is one of a series of visual and audio educational resources being developed by ASME on nanotechnology. Additional resources – which include interviews with experts in the field and cover both the applications and implications of nanotechnology – can be accessed at http://nano.asme.org/ Registration is required, but access is free.

Here is a curated selection of TEDTalks that relate to current nano science, technology, and engineering. From future medical applications to clean water, these videos give a voice and face to nano research. The resources section contains links to talks hosted at TED.com.