Outreach
The nanoSTAR Institute is actively engaged in promoting nanoscale science and engineering education. Programs include outreach to schools, competitions, seminars, workshops, and teacher training programs.
In the spring, the nanoSTAR Institute participants in the annual NanoDays celebrations, a nationwide public outreach event organized by NISE, the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network. At the University of Virginia, Jerry Floro (Professor of Materials Science and nanoSTAR Director of Outreach- shown below right) coordinates our efforts which include an open house which consisted of things like a multimedia room with videos and slide shows, posters, games, laboratory tours, and several hands-on demonstrations, and a design/build activity based on concepts such as biomimicry. In 2011, approximately 800 members of the public took part in the day’s activities, including lessons in superhydrophobicity with “magic sand” and non- Newtonian fluids demonstrating properties of both a solid and a liquid and reacting to stress with increased viscosity with a giant vat of Oobleck - among others. During the weeks surrounding NanoDays, Professor Floro and a team of students deliver the nanotechnology demonstrations within the community at local elementary schools and have also done so at the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond.
To take advantage of a large regional tradition and to have a greater public impact, as part of our NanoDays activities, nanoSTAR has hosted authors to participate in the Virginia Festival of the Book. Authors have included Professor Rosalyn W. Berne from the University of Virginia, “Nanotalk: Conversations with Scientists and Engineers about Ethics, Meaning, and Belief in the Development of Nanotechnology” and Professor Colin Milberg, University of California at Davis, “Nanotechnology and Nanovision: In Between Science and Fiction.”
The Center for Diversity in Engineering under the leadership of Carolyn Vallas has developed an INOVATION Workshop with a mission: To enhance science and math instruction in the Commonwealth of Virginia through the incorporation of nanotechnology and nanoscience concepts into K-12 classroom instruction. The center also has a NSF Research Experience for Teacher program and coordinates the placement of teachers in laboratories for the summer to conduct nanotechnology related research. Many recommended readings, reviews, presentations, and links to a vast array of resources can be found at INNOVATION Resources .
With a National Science Foundation Nanoscience Undergraduate Education grant, John Bean, Keith Williams, Avik Ghosh, Lloyd Harriott, and Nathan Swami have established a new undergraduate class at UVa and extensive online resources.
The nanoSTAR Institute also engages in outreach presentations and programs with local schools, Virginia technology councils, the Math Science Innovation Center in Richmond, and the Virginia Association of Science Teachers, and teacher training programs around the Commonwealth.
  
All images from UVa NanoDays Open House (March 30, 2008)
External Resources
The CTE Resource Center supports career and technical and occupational-technical preparation programs by providing resources for curriculum development and program design and implementation in response to the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act.
The CTE Resource Center supplies products and services at no charge to public secondary career and technical programs throughout the state. Educators may request products and services online through the CTE Web site, via e-mail, in person, or by mail, telephone, or fax.
The Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net) is a national community of researchers and informal science educators dedicated to fostering public awareness, engagement, and understanding of nanoscale science, engineering, and technology.
Funded by the National Science Foundation through a five-year cooperative agreement, the Network supports a variety of activities designed to build the capacity of informal science institutions and research organizations to work together to engage the public in learning about nanoscale science, engineering, and technology.
Research institutions, museums and informal science organizations, and other individuals who are interested in communicating with the public about nanoscale research are welcomed and encouraged to join. | 
