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ALBANY, N.Y. (November 15,
2007) --
Twenty Albany High School science students
and 10 students from Stephen and Harriet Meyers Middle School
participated November 15 in the first "NanoHigh" program class held
on-site at the University at Albany's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering's Albany
NanoTech complex.
The NanoHigh pilot program -- a joint effort between CNSE and the City
School District of Albany that is believed to be the first of its kind
at a public school anywhere in the country -- is designed to increase students'
knowledge of the emerging nanotechnology industry and the career
opportunities it offers in the Capital Region and around the world.
Click here to view photos of the day on the CNSE Web site.
The students began their class with a tour of the 300mm cleanroom
facility provided by CNSE Research Support Specialist Steve Stewart.
CNSE Assistant Professor of Nanobioscience Nathaniel Cady, Ph.D., and
Assistant Professor of Nanoengineering Michael Carpenter, Ph.D., then
led a series of hands-on learning activities that helped students get
familiar with two important areas of nanotechnology: optical microscopes
and the process of lithography.
The experiments were designed to demonstrate and reinforce the concepts
of scale, and how a reduction to the nanoscale entails not only a
reduction in size, but also requires new measurement techniques and
enables nanomaterials to obtain new properties unique to their reduction
in size.
The first classes in the NanoHigh program
began this fall at Albany High, with an introductory course split into
two sections. One, taught by Jeff Beyer, focuses on nanoscience and
physics; the other, which teaches the medical and biological aspects of
nanoscience, is taught by Dan McCarthy. Based on the success of the
initial classes, the district plans to add an advanced nanoscience class
next year, as well as a middle school class related to nanotechnology.
The City School District
of Albany serves approximately 9,000 students in 18 elementary and
middle and
high schools. The district includes several magnet schools and programs,
as well as other innovative academic opportunities for students in
addition to neighborhood schools. The district is more than halfway
through its comprehensive facilities project to newly build and/or
renovate nearly all of its elementary and middle schools. The ultimate
goal of the facilities project is to provide schools with the resources
necessary to help students succeed in the 21st century. |
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