Background Nanoscience Resources for Instructors

The following is a compilation of resources to assist you in teaching about nanotechnology. Please use these resources in developing your own nanotechnology program and share with your colleagues. We welcome additional resources on this topic; please Contribute a Resource using this online form. If every use of this site contributes one new resource, we will collectively build a very rich collection of resources that can be used by all.

Introduction to Nanoscience: Some Basics

National Reports on Nanotechnology

• The National Nantoechnology Initiative Strategic Plan (PCAST, 2014). Four goals: 1) Advance a world-class nanotechnology research and development program, 2) Foster the transfer of new technologies into products for commercial and public benefit, 3) Develop and sustain educational resources, a skilled workforce, and a dynamic infrastructure and toolset to advance nanotechnology, and 4) Support responsible development of nanotechnology.
• NSF (2016) NSF's 10 Big Ideas: Testimony of NSF Director France Cordova to U.S. Congress. See also NSFs 10 Big Ideas Growing Convergent Science:
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  Convergence research is a means of solving vexing research problems, in particular, complex problems focusing on societal needs. It entails integrating knowledge, methods, and expertise from different disciplines and forming novel frameworks to catalyze scientific discovery and innovation. NSF identifies Convergence Research as having two primary characteristics:

  • Research driven by a specific and compelling problem. Convergence Research is generally inspired by the need to address a specific challenge or opportunity, whether it arises from deep scientific questions or pressing societal needs.
  • Deep integration across disciplines. As experts from different disciplines pursue common research challenges, their knowledge, theories, methods, data, research communities and languages become increasingly intermingled or integrated. New frameworks, paradigms or even disciplines can form sustained interactions across multiple communities.
• Critical Zone Observatories--U.S. NSF National Program.
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  The CZO program includes an interdisciplinary cast of scientists that study biological, geological, and social aspects of Earth's terrestrial surface from the treetops to depths in the bedrock where meteoric waters have influence.
• New Opportunities for Critical Zone Science: June 2017 Arlington Meeting for CZ Science White Booklet (Acrobat (PDF) PRIVATE FILE 2.5MB Apr21 18) (Related URL)

Nanoscience Journals

• Nano Research--a Springer Journal; "Nano Research is a peer-reviewed, international and interdisciplinary research journal that focuses on all aspects of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Nano Research is an open-access journal, making all research results freely available online.
• Nature Nanoscience--Nature Publishing Group; "Nature Nanotechnology is a multidisciplinary journal that publishes papers of the highest quality and significance in all areas of nanoscience and nanotechnology. The journal covers research into the design, characterization and production of structures, devices and systems that involve the manipulation and control of materials and phenomena at atomic, molecular and macromolecular scales.
• Journal for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology--"Journal for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (JNN) is an international and multidisciplinary peer-reviewed journal with a wide-ranging coverage, consolidating research activities in all areas of nanoscience and nanotechnology into a single and unique reference source. JNN is the first cross-disciplinary journal to publish original full research articles, rapid communications of important new scientific and technological findings, timely state-of-the-art reviews, and current research news encompassing the fundamental and applied research in all disciplines of science, engineering and medicine."
• Nano Today--an Elsevier Journal; "Nano Today is the international magazine for researchers with interests across the whole of nanoscience and technology and is now covered by Thomson Scientific. Through its unique mixture of peer-reviewed articles, the latest research news, and information on key developments, Nano Today provides comprehensive coverage of this exciting and dynamic new field. Nano Today is available free of charge to registered readers."
• NanoEthics--a Springer Journal; "Nanoscale technologies are surrounded by both hype and fear. Optimists suggest they are desperately needed to solve problems of terrorism, global warming, clean water, land degradation and public health. Pessimists fear the loss of privacy and autonomy, "grey goo" and weapons of mass destruction, and unforeseen environmental and health risks. Concern over fair distribution of the costs and benefits of nanotechnology is also rising. Introduced in 2007, NanoEthics: Ethics for Technologies that Converge at the Nanoscale provides a needed forum for informed discussion of ethical and social concerns related to nanotechnology, and a counterbalance to fragmented popular discussion".

Nanotechnology/Science Educational Clearinghouse

• Nano Education Resources--from nanoHUB--a very comprehensive collections of tutorials, simulation tools, animations, courses and course syllabi, etc. NOTE: There is virtually no Earth and Environmental Science resources (Material Science is as close it comes). BUT there is a lot to learn about the great advances that have been made in our sister STEM disciplines, and much of this information can be applied to the Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Books

Undergraduate

• A Laboratory Course in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology--Gerrard Eddy and Jai Poinern, 2014,CRC Press, 260 pp.
• Essentials in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology--Narendra Kumar and Sunita Kumbhat, (2016), Wiley Press, 488 pp.
• Nanoparticles and the Environment--Reviews in MIneralogy Volume 44, Editors: J. F. Banfield and A. Navrotsky
• Spectroscopic Methods in Mineralogy and Material Science--Reviews in Mineralogy Volume 78, Editors: Grant Henderson, Daniel Neuville, Robert Downs
• Nanoscopic Approaches in Earth and Planetary Sciences--European Mineralogical Union EMU Notes in Mineralogy 8, Editors: Frank Brenker and Guntram Jordam
• Minerals at theNanoscale--European Mineralogical Union EMU Notes in Mineralogy 14, Editors: F. Nieto and K.J.R. Livi

K-12

• Welcome to Nanoscience: Interdisciplinary Environmental Explorations Grades 9-12--Andrew Madden et al., NSTA Press. This is a high school curriculum initially funded by the National Science Foundation and initially developed under the name Nano2Earth by Mike Hochella and colleagues at Virginia Tech University. It introduces nanotechnology through investigations of groundwater and is targeted for use in high school Biology, Chemistry and Earth and Environmental Science Classes.
• Make Your Own Nanoparticle--"Stella Marinakos creates and characterizes a wide array of nanoparticles so that colleagues both home and abroad in the Center for the Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology (CEINT) can study their potential environmental effects. Join her on a "choose your own adventure" path to see how some different kinds of nanoparticles are made".

Journals Related to Nanoscience in the Earth and Environmental Sciences

• Elements Magazine, December 2008, vol. 4, #6. Thematic issue on Nanogeoscience, ed. Michael Hochella.
• Environmental Science Nano--"Environmental Science: Nano is a comprehensive source of information on nanomaterial interactions with biological and environmental systems, and the design and use of engineered nanomaterials for sustainability. Our content is relevant to a highly interdisciplinary audience – whether you're an academic, industrial or government researcher, materials scientist, engineer or toxicologist."

Journal Articles on Teaching Nanotechnology

• Journal of Nano Education--a journal dedicated to all aspects of nano education in science, technology, engineering and medicine.
• Nanogeoscience--Elements Magazine, December 2008, M.F. Hochella Guest Editor
• Jones, M. G., Blonder, R., Gardner, G. E., Albe, V., Falvo, M., & Chevrier, J. (2013). Nanotechnology and nanoscale science: Educational challenges. International Journal of Science Education, 35(9), 1490-1512.
• Laherto, A. (2010). An analysis of the educational significance of nanoscience and nanotechnology in scientific and technological literacy. Science Education International, 21(3), 160-175.
• Schank, Patricia, Joseph Krajcik, and Molly Yunker. "Can nanoscience be a catalyst for educational reform." Nanoethics–the ethical and social implications of nanotechnology. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons (2007): 277-290.

Multimedia Resources

• The Strange New World of Nanoscience--18 minute video produced by Cambridge University and narrated by Stephen Fry; winner of the Best Short Film at the Scinema Science Film Festival in 2010.
• Materials Research Science and Engineering Center Interdisciplinary Education Group-- University of Wisconsin. A treasure trove of short tutorials, lab exercises, videos and much more!

Informal Education/Public Outreach

Introduce the possibilities of nanoscience to your community! Check out these resources for information that can readily be presented in public forums:

• Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network-- Includes NanoDays kits, nano mini-exhibition, and professional development materials to help educators engage the public.
• Nano4Me--education resources from the Nanotechnology Applications and Career Knowledge (NACK) Network; includes workshops, webinars, videos for K-12, undergraduate, and professional development.
• Nano-Link--Center for Nanotechnology Education; "Nano-Link promotes nanotechnology education at multiple grade levels with comprehensive resources, products and services for students, educators, community and industry partners. Nano-Link teams with programs and schools across the United States to assure the need for a skilled nano workforce is met."
• NanoHUB Education Resources