Building bridges between the engineering classroom and the research laboratory: Nanoscience at Union College supported by the NSF NUE program

Abstract

This project focuses on building connections between the classroom and undergraduate research in nanoscience and on developing novel art-science activities as a vehicle for outreach. Through support from the NSF NUE program, we have developed a new undergraduate nanoscale engineering course that provides in-depth coverage of micro and nanoscale microscopy (including atomic force and electron microscopy) in tandem with coverage of special topics in nanoscience/nanotechnology. The course structure is modular, allowing faculty from any of five departments who participate in the nano collaboration to co-teach. The special topic has ranged from self-assembled nanostructures for sensors, solar cells and nanoelectronics in the first two offerings to bionanomaterials (in preparation). Individual, hands-on training in nanoscale microscopy has been designed to complement the special topics coverage during the studio laboratory portion of the course. Students are provided at least two hours per week of supervised instruction on the microscopy tools in groups of two or less. Bridges between the course and undergraduate research are created through the use of samples that are generated by or related to undergraduate research projects with the co-PIs. Undergraduates participating in these research projects have presented at both national scientific conferences and undergraduate research venues. Using the pedagogical material developed for this course, we have produced in collaboration with a documentary photographer a nanoscale microscopy/art-science exhibit. Students in the nanoscience course worked closely with students in an advanced photography course to acquire the images. The exhibit has impacted 4,000 K-12 students and a public audience of about 10,000 people. The five department collaboration and modular teaching approach we employ has enabled us to sustain an interdisciplinary undergraduate program in nanoscience at Union College, a small, liberal arts college, for ten years. © American Society of Engeneering Education, 2013.