Imagining the Invisible

High-school students are exploring the world of nanotechnology through a workshop called "Imaging the Invisible," developed by the Nanotech Innovations Enterprise (NIE) at Michigan Technological University.

The activities have sparked numerous conversations among workshop participants and NIE undergraduate members regarding nanoscale science and technology, as well as college life and STEM careers. This peer-to-peer approach enhances learning opportunities for all students involved.

NIE members have hosted over 25 workshops for approximately 550 students in the three years since inception, including a special series of workshops for 150 young women in the Women in Engineering and Engineering Scholars Programs.

Workshop topics include "What is nanotechnology?" "What's so special about nano?" and "Applications of nanotechnology." Short demonstrations included:

• Imaging carbon atoms on a scanning tunneling microscope and measuring the carbon-carbon bond distance and the spacing between graphene sheets in graphite's crystal structure;
• Imaging individual transistors on a memory chip with a nanosurf easyScan2 atomic force microscope and exploring associated ideas of size and cost scaling with length scale; and
• Imaging the topography of a pattern of Legos® that students design on a platform with a custom designed and built Lego Mindstorms scanning probe macroscope.