Environmental and Health Aspects
Grades K-12
The far-reaching and diverse applications that are being realized for nanotechnology underscore the importance of outreach and education that supports future development at this important scientific frontier. While the terms "nanoscience" and "nanotechnology" have become very familiar to scientists in areas ranging from chemistry to medicine to environmental science to public health, their definition remains elusive to the general public. In a recent survey, 60% of individuals aged 14-59 were familiar with the terms "nano" and "nanotechnology'; however, of the individuals age 29 and over, only 1% could correctly define the terms "nano" and "nanotechnology."(Waldron, A., NanoToday, 2006, p. 1) In a report prepared for the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network, low awareness and knowledge are identified as front-end challenges for the presentation of nanotechnology to the public. The report goes on to suggest that the public indicates higher initial levels of interest in fields such as medicine and the environment, so that when presented with examples of nanoscience within this context, an interest in the small scale of nanoscience also develops.
This strategy, drawing on examples from areas of health and the environment, is one that the NNI@UI is working to employ as learning activities are created and adapted to meet the needs of various audiences seeking to learn more about nanoscience and technology. Outreach activities include visits to area schools, hosting visits by area school children on campus, and coordinating job-shadowing experiences for local high school students interested in nanotechnology and biomedical applications. Starting in summer 2009, NNI educators will partner with the Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development, to offer programs in nanomedicine targeting students in 6th-8th grades.
