No Small Feat: Building A Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Program for Engineering Undergraduate Students

Recent advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology (NSNT) have resulted in the development of new civil and military applications as well as many new commercial opportunities. These opportunities have led to the development of products and industries that hold the potential for significant economic and societal benefits. According to Lux Research, an emerging technologies consulting firm, the estimated total (public and private) global nanotechnology funding for 2012 was approximately $18.5 billion. Therefore, an urgent need exists for training a workforce in NSNT. Since 2000, countries have invested billions of dollars in research/development and education to advance nanoscale science, engineering, and technology. Despite these efforts, nanotechnology and nanoscience programs exist in a handful universities around the world. At the University of North Dakota (UND), a mid-size research institution in the Midwest and one of two research universities located in the state of North Dakota, there were no regularly designated courses to educate undergraduate students in nanoscience and nanotechnology until 2014. This paper will describe an NSF-funded project to establish a nanoscience and nanotechnology program at UND with the goal of generating new interest in nanoscience and nanotechnology among STEM students and prepare them with the knowledge and skills necessary for the next generation of graduates to compete in the global market and contribute to the NSNT field. The outcomes of the project are: 1) creation of two courses that expose STEM students to nanoscience and nanotechnology, 2) development of several hands-on activities to train the future workforce and increase its expertise in nanoscience and nanotechnology, and 3) Facilitation of outreach activities for underrepresented groups to expose students from tribal colleges in the state of North Dakota to NSNT. The first course was taught in the fall 2015 semester and the second course is being taught in the spring 2016 semester. The two courses cover basic nanoscience and nanotechnology concepts and the impact of NSNT and its importance on future societal and economic development.