NNI Education and Outreach

The Northwest Nanotechnology Infrastructure’s site at the University of Washington offers flexible use options as needed, from comprehensive training of local users to operator-assisted tool access to remote execution of assignments. We provide undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral and community college students with support in the entire development cycle, from initial design to final analysis. NWNI organizes outreach programs for nanotechnology education beyond the university campus. In partnerships with regional schools, colleges and with tribal organizations, we educate the educators and immerse our students into the broader scientific community.

Specific education activities coordinated by the UW include:

  • K-12 and community outreach - events include Engineering Discovery Days at UW and the regional Science Center Paws on Science Days.
  • Workforce Development via 15-20 paid internships in the UW WNF cleanroom, including targeted recruitment of First Nations students through engagement with the American Indian Science and Engineering Society at UW. 
  • Educator programs-
    • Educators-in-Residence Program - brings regional K-12 educators to the UW during the summer to develop curricular and co-curricular materials on nanotechnology education. These materials are brought back to teacher classrooms and disseminated to their peers.
    • Clean Energy Bridge to Research (CEBR) sponsors a 4-week program for community college faculty.
    • Regional NNCI travel support - funds are used to allow students from UW and OSU to engage in collaborative research between the two sites.
  • Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) - The Clean Energy Bridge to Research (CEBR) is sponsored by the Clean Energy Institute. This REU will support 10 undergraduate summer research positions as part of 2 research cohorts (a four-week exploratory session, and a full 9-week program.

For further information, contact: Daniel M. Ratner, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Bioengineering, dratner@uw.edu, 206.685.2840
 

The Northwest Nanotechnology Infrastructure’s site at Oregon State University E&O programs focus on two collaborations:

  • The Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) funded by the National  Science Foundation, is dedicated to increasing the number of underrepresented students successfully completing STEM baccalaureate degree programs. LSAMP also works to increase the number of students interested in and qualified for undergraduate research and graduate level studies. Students are provided financial, academic, social, and professional support to help them achieve their academic and professional goals.  Programming includes a residential bridge program for incoming freshman, mentor program, Second-year & Transfer Experience program, tutoring, workshops, a student center, and undergraduate research funding.
  • Lens on the Market Innovation Program is collaboration between Oregon State University and ecosVC offers a series for workshop for graduate students, postdocs, and faculty, to promote innovation and teach researchers the skills to transform research and innovation to commercial opportunities.  The three workshops, Research2Innovation, Innovation2Market, and Market2Scale-up provide the skill set needed to evaluate the need of the market and move innovation from the bench top to commercial venture.

For more information, contact: Liney Arnadottir; liney.arnadottir@oregonstate.edu

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