An important focus of the IGERT program is to expose the concepts of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology to the youth of Austin and it's surrounding communities. All IGERT trainees and faculty members participate in some capacity in the outreach activities. More specifically, the outreach program consists of:
Summer Nanoscience Academy
June 26-28, 2008 view schedule
View the open letter of invitation to all Texas High School science teachers and their students.
This free special nanoscience academy is designed for secondary school science teachers and 1-2 of their students. The Summer Nanoscience Academy is being offered as a means to provide teachers and students with a better understanding and hands on experience in the field of nanoscience.
Our partnership with the Austin's Children Museum is aimed at introducing children to key concepts of nanoscience at an early age and making science accessible to the general public. We co-sponsored a Nano Day on Sunday, March 30, 2008. There were two workshops for kids and families that uncovered how nano scientists are thinking about and exploring the nano world. IGERT students during Fall 2006 coordinated with Austin Children’s Museum to teach children about the basics of interfaces and defects in a Science Sunday sponsorship of "It Fits!" Flyer
Summer Camp
Our IGERT program each summer will choose high school students to participate in a camp program focused on exposing high school students to cutting edge university research. Pictured on the right is high school student Eric Chen participating in a summer program in Dr. Ken Shih's lab in the physics department. During Eric's stay at UT, he heavily contributed to a project in which he designed and built a piezoelectric actuated motor utilized for studying quantum dot structures via laser optics. After his summer research, he presented his research to a group of working researchers (pictured).
Austin area K-12 schools
All IGERT trainees and faculty members will work with Austin area K-12 schools through giving lectures and demonstrations to present the basic ideas behind nanoscience and nanotechnology. In addition, we will seek out other opportunities to reach the general public concerning the societal impacts of nanoscience and nanotechnology.
