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Photograph of an Apple iPhone motherboard.

Computer Science

A compilation of public engagement computing and computer science resources. Also included are resources for annual events including CS Week and the Hour of Code.

Activities and Programs

Two young learners and facilitator push down on a red magnet being repelled by a magnetic black base

Exploring Products - Computer Hard Drives

In this activity, learners use floating ring magnets to store data and model how computer hard drives works.
Title slide for the presentation showing a computer chip

The Future of Computing

In this stage presentation, learners are asked to consider how smaller, faster, better computers in the future might impact their lives after a short presentation.
Learners holding image drawings of robots

Robots & People

In this activity, learners imagine and draw a robot for a particular task after a quick presentation on robots and nanobots.
Illustration of nano-sized robots

Shrinking Robots!

In this program and stage presentation, learners design and build a robot toy from recycled and craft materials after hearing a presentation about the challenges in creating nano-sized robots.
Image showing an illustration of a Mars rover

Is That Robot Real? children's book and poster

Book, graphics panels, and evaluation report on fact and fiction around robots.
A circuit etched on a board using photolithography.

Photolithography

In this long activity, learners will use UV light to transfer a pattern (either a network of very small metal wires or self-drawn patterns) onto a plastic board in a process called photolithography.
A person puts a liquid on a substrate which is on top of a DIY spin-coater.

Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (OLEDs): Cart Version

In this activity, learners explore OLEDs through presentations and a spin coater demonstration. Instructions are included for facilitators to pre-make the OLEDs and the spin coater.
A person puts a liquid on a substrate which is on top of a DIY spin-coater.

Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (OLEDs): Classroom Version

In this classroom activity, learners will engage with organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) to discover how they work.
Nanoscientist dressing to go into a clean room with a white suit, gloves, and protective eyewear

Clean Room Lab Tour Videos

Educational videos providing tours of nanofabrication labs and clean rooms.
Two kids in cleanroom suits and PPE hugging and smiling at the camera

Tiny Particles, Big Trouble!

In this activity, learners investigate clean rooms by sniffing scents that are too small to see, trying on the head-to-toe suits that scientists wear in clean rooms, and manipulating pretend silicon wafers with tweezers.
A learner gives commands to another learner who is blindfolded and is navigating a obstacle course.

Exploring the Solar System: Mars Rovers

In this activity, learners must work together to navigate a large obstacle course, similar to how scientists and engineers communicate with rovers to explore distant worlds.
Family playing Explore Mars! A Rover Game board game

Explore Mars! A Rover Game

In this cooperative board game, players work together to program a rover on Mars to successfully complete its mission. Players must collect all four data samples before the treacherous environment damages the rover beyond repair!
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More Resources

Scientific Images

Microscopic composite image of an Apple A4 computer microprocessor.

Scientific Image - Apple A4 Microprocessor

Microscopic composite image of an Apple A4 computer microprocessor.
Transistros in a single computer memory cell

Scientific Image - Single Memory Cell

Scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of computer transistors on an Apple A4 microprocessor.
Photograph of an Apple iPhone motherboard.

Scientific Image - iPhone Motherboard

Photograph of an Apple iPhone motherboard.

Scientific Image - Silicon Nanomembrane

Magnified image of silicon nanomembrane using an Optical Microscope.

Scientific Image - Nanowire Resting on a Human Hair

Magnified image of nanowire resting on a strand of human hair using a Scanning Electron Microscope.

Scientific Image - Indium Arsenide Nanowire Field-Effect Transistor

Magnified image of an indium arsenide (InAs) nanowire field-effect transistor using a Scanning Electron Microscope.

Scientific Image - Indium Arsenide Nanowires

Magnified image of indium arsenide nanowires using a Scanning Electron Microscope.

Scientific Image - Zinc Oxide Nanowires

Magnified image of zinc oxide nanowires on a sapphire substrate using a Scanning Electron Microscope.

Scientific Image - Silicon Nanowire Device

Magnified image of a silicon nanowire on two silicon nitride membranes using a Scanning Electron Microscope.

Scientific Image - Silicon Nanowire

Magnified image of a silicon nanowire using a Transmission Electron Microscope.

Scientific Image - Silicon Nanowire Array

Magnified image of a silicon nanowire array using a Scanning Electron Microscope.

Scientific Image - Nickel Nanowires

Magnified image of nickel nanowires using a Scanning Electron Microscope.
Scientific Image - Cornell Nanoscientists in clean room

Scientific Image -Nanoscientists Working in a Clean Room

Photographs of scientists working in the Cornell NanoScale Science & Technology Facility.

Scientific Image - Nanomechanical Antenna Oscillator

Magnified image of nanomechanical antenna oscillator using a Scanning Electron Microscope.

Scientific Image - Spin Torsion Oscillator

Magnified image of nanomechanical torsion oscillator using a Scanning Electron Microscope.

Scientific Image - Silicon Nano-Biosensor

Magnified image of a silicon nano-biosensor using a Scanning Electron Microscope.
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