Lawrence Today magazine, Spring 2006
Lawrence has been awarded a $200,000 grant by the National Science Foundation’s
Nanotechnology
Undergraduate Education program to support an expansion of its
growing nanotechnology and
nanoscience initiative. Lawrence was one of only 15 institutions nationally to receive
such a grant.
The funds will enable Lawrence to incorporate nanoscience experiments and activities
into core geology and environmental science courses during the next two years.
This is the second NSF-NUE grant
Lawrence
has received in the past three years. A $100,000 grant
in 2003 helped launch Lawrence’s nanotechnology
and nanoscience program, which began by focusing on interdisciplinary
research opportunities in chemistry, physics, and biochemistry (Lawrence
Today, Spring
2005).
Nanotechnology involves the scientific study and use of materials on an unimaginably
small scale, including the manipulation of individual atoms. It is widely regarded
as having the potential to revolutionize scientific research and science education.
“Nano” refers to a nanometer, which is approximately one eighty-thousandth
the width of a human hair. Because nanomaterials typically exhibit different
characteristics from those in larger forms, they provide unique and innovative
applications in areas ranging from medicine and national security to environmental
technology
and consumer products.
Beyond curricular and research activities, the NSF grant will support the purchase
of several pieces of sophisticated equipment specifically designed for the
study of nanomaterials, as well as other laboratory and classroom materials.
The grant also will fund the development of several outreach programs, including
conferences and workshops for area K-12 teachers and a partnership with the
ArtsBridge program.
"Lawrence is one of only a few liberal arts colleges in the country that
are aggressively incorporating nanoscience into the science curriculum,” says
Karen Nordell, associate professor of chemistry and the leader of Lawrence’s
initiative. “Nanoscience has tremendous potential to attract additional
students to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers,” she
says.
“Lawrence’s expanded program will enable students and faculty to
conduct interdisciplinary research projects not only on our campus but through
collaborations
with faculty and students at other universities," Nordell adds. “We
hope to help raise awareness among undergraduates, middle and high school
students, and teachers regarding the many ways in which nanoscale science
is affecting
our daily lives.”