Nanotechnology Education: The Pennsylvania Approach
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Nanotechnology Education: The Pennsylvania Approach Stephen Fonash1, Douglas Fenwick1, Paul Hallacher2, Terry Kuzma3, Amy Brunner3, William Mahoney3, and Robert Ehrmann1 1 Center for Nanotechnology Education & Utilization, Penn State University, 101 Innovation Blvd., 112 Lubert Building, University Park, PA, 16802 2 Center for Nanotechnology Education & Utilization, Penn State University, 304 Old Main, University Park, PA, 16802 3 Center for Nanotechnology Education & Utilization, Penn State University, 101 Innovation Blvd., 114 Lubert Building, University Park, PA, 16802 PARTNERSHIP GOALS AND HISTORY In 1998 Penn State University, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania industry joined together to work toward the ambitious objective of creating a State-wide microand nanotechnology workforce development effort in Pennsylvania. The overarching goal was— and remains—to open the door for Pennsylvanians to the high-tech jobs of micro- and nanotechnology and to nurture and strengthen Pennsylvania micro- and nanotechnology-based industry. The effort was inaugurated in August 1998 by then-governor Tom Ridge and it quickly evolved into the successful Pennsylvania Nanofabrication Manufacturing Technology (NMT) Partnership, which is headquartered in Penn State’s Center for Nanotechnology Education and Utilization (CNEU). Six courses were in place for an intense “Capstone Semester” of hands-on exposure to micro- and nanotechnology by the following December and the first associate degree students emerged from these courses in the spring semester of 1999. From these beginnings, the Partnership has grown to encompass Penn State University, 29 other post-secondary Pennsylvania institutions, Pennsylvania industry, State government, and the National Science Foundation. Today the “Capstone Semester” is taught as a service by CNEU three times a year at Penn State’s University Park campus and it is now used in certificate programs for prior college graduates, associate degree programs, and baccalaureate degree programs by institutions across Pennsylvania. Today, in addition to the unique, shared “Capstone Semester”, the NMT Partnership offers one-day and three-day Nanotech Camps for secondary school students, nanotechnology workshops for educators, programs for bringing nanotechnology into the secondary school curricula, programs for post-secondary school curriculum enhancement, incumbent worker training, and industry workshops. CONCEPTUAL BASIS The NMT Partnership is built on six core concepts. These are that the Partnership (1) is a Statewide education and workforce development activity reaching every corner of Pennsylvania; (2) is mandated to bring nanotechnology education to secondary schools, post-secondary schools, industry and the general public; (3) is based on the sharing of the research and education resources of Penn State; (4) is a broad approach to nanotechnology which is not focused on one industry or one use area; (5) offers all associate and baccalaureate degree students access to the “Capstone
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