Discovery Learning Center presents talk on museum projects for nanotechnology education
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Larry Bell will speak at 10 a.m. Feb. 21 in the Dean's Auditorium in Pfendler Hall of Agriculture. The lecture is free and open to the public. Bell is the vice president for research, development and production at the Museum of Science.
Bell will talk about the network, which is funded by a $20 million National Science Foundation grant to the Boston Museum of Science in partnership with the Science Museum of Minnesota and the Exploratorium in San Francisco. The groups have formed a national Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network of multiple science museums and research institutions to develop ways to engage more research in nanoscale science and engineering education, research and technology.
Purdue is one of a handful of universities around the country selected to partner with the Boston Museum to help develop the nanoscience and technology projects. Krishna Madhavan, a research scientist in Purdue's Rosen Center for Advanced Computing and Discovery Park's Cyber Center, is leading Purdue's contributions with work on high-end visualization. Aadron Rausch, an extension specialist working with youth development and agricultural education, also is an adviser on the project.
"Purdue is already a leader in the development of nanotechnology research, and the Discovery Learning Center is well-poised to provide leadership in nanoscience education," said Beverly Davenport Sypher, interim director of the Discovery Learning Center and professor of communication. "The museum project along with the work of Nicholas Giordano suggests Purdue is fast becoming a hub for nanoscale learning and teaching."
Giordano, the Hubert James Distinguished Professor of Physics, is the principal investigator for Purdue's multi-institutional partnership in the first national center for learning and teaching of nanoscale science and engineering education in the United States.
Bell has worked in the Education and Exhibit departments at the Museum of Science in Boston since 1971. Through a series of National Science Foundation grants from 1986 to the present, he developed a new model for science center exhibits employing learning experiences to provide visitors with practice in scientific thinking skills.
The Discovery Learning Center, one of 10 centers in Purdue's Discovery Park, supports research that enhances the understanding of the learning process. This includes the development and/or assessment of innovative learning-related technologies and the development of innovative interdisciplinary educational programs. More than 300 faculty representing 12 schools or colleges and 45 academic departments at Purdue, plus those from other universities, business and industry, teachers, and professional organizations, are involved in other similar collaborations or research in conjunction with the Discovery Learning Center.
Discovery Park is Purdue's interdisciplinary research hub that brings the university's scientists, researchers, engineers and management experts together in projects to make basic discoveries available to advance the Indiana economy and solve societal problems by inventing new products and processes.
Discovery Park, under construction on State Street on the west edge of campus, has attracted more than $250 million for facilities and $112 million in sponsored research and now involves about 850 faculty as members. The park has been a critical factor in forming eight start-up companies and at least 40 patent filings.
Writer: Maggie Morris, (765) 494-2432, maggiemorris@purdue.edu
Sources: Beverly Davenport Sypher, (765) 494-6969, bdsypher@purdue.edu
Willie Burgess, DLC managing director, (765) 494-0668, wburgess@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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