|
Media Advisory 09-006
Experience the Nano World
More than 200 public events planned for this year's Nano Days
March 25, 2009
From Puerto Rico to Montana, museums, universities and research centers are gearing up for one of the largest outreach efforts ever attempted for educating the public about science and engineering at the nanoscale, a barely conceivable environment where one can manipulate objects as small as a single atom. To bring nanoscale research directly to the public, the 2009 Nano Days events will run from March 28 through April 5, 2009, with activities such as hands-on experiments, nanotechnology product demonstrations, forums, laboratory tours and in at least one museum, juggling. At the nanoscale, some materials are more reactive and can exhibit extraordinary properties, leading many scientists and engineers to believe advances in nanotechnology may bolster the U.S. economy and help the nation meet such challenges as affordable clean energy and personalized drugs. Already, many products on the market-from stain-repellant clothing to sun screens-incorporate nanotechnology. Organized by the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net)--created in 2005 with a grant from the National Science Foundation--Nano Days involves more than 200 different sites, an effort spearheaded by the Museum of Science in Boston, the Science Museum of Minnesota and San Francisco's Exploratorium. For details about Nano Days activities in your neighborhood, or to download a digital Nano Days kit, go to http://www.nisenet.org/nanodays.
-NSF-
Media Contacts
Joshua A. Chamot, NSF (703) 292-7730 jchamot@nsf.gov
Ken Vest, National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (703) 292-4503 kvest@nnco.nano.gov
Margaret Glass, Association of Science-Technology Centers (202) 783-7200 mglass@astc.org
Principal Investigators
Larry Bell, Museum of Science, Boston (617) 589-0282 lbell@mos.org
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2012, its budget was $7.0 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and other institutions. Each year, NSF receives about 50,000 competitive requests for funding, and makes about 11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards about $593 million in professional and service contracts yearly.
 Get News Updates by Email
Useful NSF Web Sites:
NSF Home Page: http://www.nsf.gov
NSF News: http://www.nsf.gov/news/
For the News Media: http://www.nsf.gov/news/newsroom.jsp
Science and Engineering Statistics: http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/
Awards Searches: http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/
| 
