Nano Science Gets K-12 Boost

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 08/21/08
##AUTHORSPLIT##<--->

A new program to introduce K-12 students to nano science has been launched by artists and scientists from NanoArt21.org and The Nanotechnology Group. Seeing a lack of coverage of nano science in K-12 curriculum, NanoArt K12 was introduced to stimulate education activities about nanoscale art, science, and technology. Nano means "dwarf," and a nanometer is one-billionth of a meter.

NanoArt is a new discipline that combines art with science to create paintings and sculptures at molecular and atomic levels. Scientists use chemical or physical processes to explore the surfaces, composition, and interaction of elements at the nanoscale, which can now be viewed and manipulated with research tools such as scanning electron (SEM) scanning tunneling (STM) and atomic force microscopes (AFM). These scientific images are then captured and further processed, using different digital techniques.

Since these tools are too expensive for primary grade classrooms the program will provide weblinks to sites that the children, parents, and teachers can explore.

"This unique introduction to the K-12 students showcasing the beauty of nature at this tiny scale of science is designed to stimulate their imagination and curiosity strengthening the desire to learn more science, technology and engineering (STEM) courses as they move through the primary grades and enter high school," the two organizations said in a statement.

The program offers a NanoArt K12 online exhibition in which compositions are grouped online by age/grade level for the viewers. The program has posted a PDF file online with potential modules for curriculum here.

Get daily news from THE Journal's RSS News Feed

About the author: Dian Schaffhauser is a writer who covers technology and business for a number of publications. Contact her at [email protected].

Proposals for articles and tips for news stories, as well as questions and comments about this publication, should be submitted to David Nagel, executive editor, at [email protected].

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • The First Steps of Establishing Your Cloud Security Strategy

    In this guide, we'll identify some first steps you can take to establish your cloud security strategy. We'll do so by discussing the cloud security impact of individual, concrete actions featured within the CIS Critical Security Controls® (CIS Controls®) and the CIS Benchmarks™.

  • Human Error Remains the Leading Cause of Cloud Data Breaches

    Human error is still one of the biggest threats to cloud security, despite all the technology bells and whistles and alerts and services out there, from multi-factor authentication, to social engineering training, to enterprise-wide integrated cybersecurity platforms, and more.

  • Abstract illustration of a human news reporter interviewing an AI with a microphone

    AI on AI in Education: A Dialogue

    Scholars are doing lots of asking and predicting about the risks and rewards of generative artificial intelligence in school, but has anyone asked the all-knowing chatbots?

  • Pattern of desks with interconnected circles, triangles, and lines

    Classroom Furniture Giveaway Seeks Dream Learning Space Design

    Educators have a chance to design their ideal K-12 learning space in a contest recently announced by classroom furniture manufacturer KI.