Nanotech and Consumer Products

Overview
Standards
Resources
Comments

Overview

Description:

“Nanotech and Consumer Products” is a public presentation that introduces audiences to the growing role of nanotechnology in making consumer products, and encourages them to consider the potential environmental and health risks. During the presentation, visitors are guided through questions such as: What is nanotechnology, why does it matter, and where is it happening? How are nanomaterials being used in a growing number of consumer products that are available on the market today? What is known about the long-term environmental and health risks of nanotechnology, and how might the increased use of consumer products that are made through nanotechnology affect the environment? What might be done to address potential environmental and health concerns from nanotechnology, given the lack of a formal regulatory structure for consumer products in the United States?

Objectives

Big Idea:

Nanotechnology is improving the production and performance of many products in the consumer market, but the long-term health and environmental implications of the use of nanotechnology in making these kinds of products is still unclear.

Learning goals:

As a result of participating in this program, visitors will be able to:
1. Communicate some of the potential properties that are improved or enabled through nanotechnology, such as strength, stain resistance, surface area, and antimicrobial properties.
2. Understand that small particles of a material will often react more rapidly than large particles because of their large surface area
3. Convey some potential health and environmental concerns around the large-scale use of nanotechnology.
4. Understand that consumer products that are made through nanotechnology present both potential benefits for people and potential risks for the environment.
5. Describe some potential risks and benefits from the use of consumer products that are made through nanotechnology in both individual and societal contexts.

NISE Net Content Map:

Nanometer-sized things are very small, and often behave differently than larger things do.

Scientists and engineers have formed the interdisciplinary field of nanotechnology by investigating properties and manipulating matter at the nanoscale.

Nanoscience, nanotechnology, and nanoengineering lead to new knowledge and innovations that weren't possible before.

Nanotechnologies have costs, risks, and benefits that affect our lives in ways we cannot always predict.

Universal design:

Repeat and reinforce main ideas and concepts.

Provide multiple entry points and multiple ways of engagement

Provide physical and sensory access to all aspects of the program. Visitors can touch, see and hear different elements of the program.

Credits

Developed for the NISE Network with funding from the National Science Foundation under Award Numbers 0532536 and 0940143. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this product are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.

Owning institution:

Museum of Science, Boston

Checklist

Scientist reviewed? check_reviewed

Peer reviewed? check_reviewed

Visitor evaluation? check_reviewed

Permissions

Creative Commons
Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike

Standards

History and nature of science:

K-4: Science as a human endeavor

5-8: History of science

5-8: Nature of science

5-8: Science as a human endeavor

9-12: Historical perspectives

9-12: Nature of scientific knowledge

9-12: Science as a human endeavor

Life science:

K-4: Life cycles of organisms

K-4: Organisms and environments

5-8: Diversity and adaptations of organisms

5-8: Populations and ecosystems

9-12: Biological evolution

9-12: Interdependence of organisms

Physical science:

K-4: Properties of objects and materials

5-8: Properties and changes of properties in matter

9-12: Chemical reactions

9-12: Structure and properties of matter

Science and Technology:

K-4: Abilities of technological design

K-4: Abilities to distinguish between natural objects and objects made by humans

K-4: Understanding about science and technology

5-8: Abilities of technological design

5-8: Understanding about science and technology

9-12: Abilities of technological design

9-12: Understanding about science and technology

Science in Personal and Social Perspectives:

K-4: Changes in environments

K-4: Personal health

K-4: Science and technology in local challenges

5-8: Personal health

5-8: Populations, resources, and environments

5-8: Risks and benefits

5-8: Science and technology in society

9-12: Environmental quality

9-12: Natural and human-induced hazards

9-12: Personal and community health

9-12: Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges

Resources

Download all files (ZIP)

Files:

consumerproducts_lessonplands.doc

consumerproductsfornisenet_final.ppt

Nanotech and Consumer Products

Overview

Description:

Big Idea:

Learning goals:

NISE Net Content Map:

Universal design:

Owning institution:

Checklist

Adaptable Formats

Nano Topics

Audience

Tags

Permissions

Standards

History and nature of science:

Life science:

Physical science:

Science and Technology:

Science in Personal and Social Perspectives:

Resources

Download all files (ZIP)

Files:

Comments

Keyword search

Questions?

NISE Net

SECTIONS

SUPPORT