April 5, 2016  

Purdue NanoDays designed to tap interests of K-12 students in STEM at state-of-the-art center in Discovery Park

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Students in grades K-12 participate in 2015 NanoDays activities at the Birck Nanotechnology Center in Purdue University's Discovery Park. The 2016 edition of NanoDays is April 13-15. (Purdue University photo)
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Students will get up close and personal at the biggest event for the smallest science at Purdue University's 2016 edition of NanoDays on April 13-15 at the Birck Nanotechnology Center.

The research center in Discovery Park will be buzzing with special activities and learning opportunities for the hundreds of registered K-12 students, Girl Scouts, teachers and parents during the seventh annual NanoDays. While the event is free, registration is required for participants and volunteers at: https://nanohub.org/groups/bnc/nanodays

"This free event continues to be an annual highlight for our faculty, students and staff at the Birck Nanotechnology Center," said Birck deputy director Dimitrios Peroulis, a professor of electrical and computer engineering and mechanical engineering. "We truly enjoy introducing this important and growing field to young scholars, whether they leave the event and decide to enter the nanotechnology field one day or take away great memories and a new interest in STEM."

Purdue NanoDays, co-sponsored by the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network, is part of a nationwide festival of educational programs about nanoscale science and engineering and its potential future impact. The event gives local students a chance to learn about an exciting new STEM field that other students are typically not exposed to until college.

Lead organizer Swati Pol, a research scientist and outreach and engagement officer at Birck, said this year's NanoDays is a collective effort across campus with nearly 150 undergraduate and graduate student volunteers as well as faculty members from a variety of disciplines at the center participating.

"Our volunteers have a unique opportunity to share their knowledge of 'nano-concepts' to a young, bright audience and maybe even inspire scholars in years to come," Pol said.

The Girl Scouts of Central Indiana is again partnering with Purdue for this program. NanoDays aligns with the organization's focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) for young girls. Girl Scouts from throughout the state will participate in a reception 6-8 p.m. April 13 at Birck and receive a specially designed patch for their participation.

"STEM-focused career aspirations have become a focus for Girl Scouts," said Jaime Hubbard, program development manager for the Girl Scouts of Central Indiana. "We are encouraging them to explore these fields and this Purdue-led festival about nanoscale science and engineering has continued to be an inspiration for our girls. This event gives our Girl Scouts both the curiosity and the confidence to take on what some may consider a daunting field."

Since the Purdue event's conception in 2010, several thousand K-12 educators, students and others have participated.

Nanotechnology is the ability to measure, manipulate and manufacture objects between 1 and 100 nanometers in size. A nanometer is one billionth of a meter; a human hair is roughly 100,000 nanometers in diameter.

These technologies may lead to groundbreaking inventions such as the ability to "swallow the doctor" in microscopic robots that can be injected in the body and act as nanosurgeons. NanoDays programs demonstrate the properties found at the nanoscale, examine tools used by nanoscientists, showcase nano materials with spectacular promise and invite discussion of technology and society.

 A look at the activities, games and demonstrations:

* Mock cleanroom. Visitors dress up like nanoscientists and wear a cleanroom suit. They learn that to make tiny things, scientists need to work in a very clean place.

* Exploring Products-Liquid Crystal Displays. Visitors investigate temperature-sensitive liquid crystal sheets and liquid crystal displays from a calculator. They learn that liquid crystals change color as a result of nanoscale shifts in the arrangement of their molecules.

* Exploring Properties-Invisibility. This hands-on activity allows visitors to investigate how glass objects can be "hidden" in some liquids. They learn researchers can use nanotechnology to engineer new materials such as an invisibility cloak that interacts with light in special ways.

* Exploring Properties-UV Bracelets. This is a hands-on activity in which visitors use ultraviolet light to change the color of beads that contain photochromic dye. They learn that the UV beads change color as a result of nanoscale shifts in the shape of the dye molecules.

* Exploring Products-Nano Fabric. Visitors explore how the application of nano-sized whiskers can protect clothing from stains. It stays dry although it's raining or snowing. Visitors investigate the hydrophobic properties of pants made from nano fabric and ordinary fabric.

* Exploring Fabrication. Electroplating is a hands-on activity in which visitors coat a nickel coin with copper using the electroplating process. They learn electroplating can deposit nanometer-thin layers of materials.

* Exploring Tools-Transmission Electron Microscopes: This hands-on activity allows visitors to use a model of a transmission electron microscope to image an object by looking at its shadow. They learn scientists use special tools and equipment to work on the nanoscale.

* Nano-Ice Cream. A public presentation demonstrating how liquid nitrogen cools a creamy mixture at such a rapid rate that it precipitates super fine grained (nano) ice cream.

"Nanomaterials and technology are everywhere in our lives in unexpected ways that so many people do not even realize. The technology is exciting, ever-changing and breaking barriers. There is so much that can captivate students and parents alike," Peroulis said.

The Birck Nanotechnology Center, an 187,000-square-foot facility, is a cornerstone of Discovery Park's interdisciplinary efforts. It involves more than 300 faculty members, staff and graduate students from 36 schools and departments at Purdue, advancing research in nanoscale science and engineering with applications in areas such as health care, energy, communication, computer technology and food safety.  

Writers: Paige Pope, 219-363-2599, popep@purdue.edu

Phillip Fiorini, 765-496-3133, pfiorini@purdue.edu 

Sources: Dimitrios Peroulis, 765-494-3491, dperouli@purdue.edu

Swati Pol, 765-494-5138, spol@purdue.edu

Jaime Hubbard, 317-924-6859, jhubbard@girlscoutsindiana.org 

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