Nanoscale Undergraduate Education Program

NSF Programs

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) introduced the program Nanoscale Science and Engineering Education (NSEE) to enhance formal and informal education in nanoscience, engineering, and technology. Its goals are to develop strong partnerships, linking science educators with nanoscale science and engineering researchers, and to increase knowledge in advances in nanoscale research and technology and their impact on society. To attain the overarching program goals, NSEE encompasses two independent components.

The first is the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network, intended to foster public awareness, engagement, and understanding of nanoscale science, engineering, and technology through establishment of a network. It is a national infrastructure that links science museums and other informal science education organizations with nanoscale science and engineering research organizations. Numerous resources, including downloadable educational materials, news of upcoming conferences and events, and notification of funding opportunities, are available at the program's Website (http://www.nisenet.org).

The second program, Nanotechnology Undergraduate Education (NUE), aims to introduce nanoscale science, engineering, and technology through a variety of interdisciplinary approaches into undergraduate education, particularly during the first two collegiate years. The program provides educational opportunities for undergraduate students and K-12 educators. It also provides indirect funding for students at this level, or educational development, such as curricula development, training, or retention. The NSF Website also maintains a partial listing of courses on nanoscale science and engineering offered by U.S. universities. As of 2010, these included courses in subjects such as nano-structred materials (Clarkson University), chemistry and physics of nanomaterials (University of Washington) and nanomanufacturing processes (University of Arkansas), as well as summer workshops such as those offered at Northwestern University and Rice University.

The first NSEE grant proposals were solicited in 2005: at that time, one award was available for NISE, for up to $4,500,000 per year for five years, and 15 for NUE at up to $200,000 total for up to two years. The programs continue, with most recent NUE grants being awarded in 2010: winning researchers were located at a variety of institutions, including The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Union College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. The NISE Award is also active, and proposals are being solicited (note that only a single five-year award is available: the first grantee was Lawrence Bell of the Boston Museum of Science). Projects in nanoscience and nanoscience education are also eligible for numerous other grants available through various federal agencies. The NNI lists some of these on their Website, along with advice on locating grants.

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