5th WSEAS / IASME International Conference on ENGINEERING EDUCATION (EE'08), Heraklion, Greece, July 22-24, 2008

Nanotechnology in Education: Nanoeducation

SEMIH OZEL*, YELDA OZEL**

* Computer Science and Electrical Engineering Faculty Bucharest Politehnico ROMANYA ** Electrical Education Department, Technical Education Faculty Marmara Universitty TURKEY

Abstract: - The emerging field of nanoscience and nanotechnology are becoming more and more popular everyday. Nanotechnology is truly interdisciplinary; it involves manipulating and controlling individual atoms and molecules to design and create new materials, nanomachines, and nanodevices for application in all aspects of our lives. Recent advances and envisioned developments in enabling nanotechnology provide challenges to academia in educating and training a new generation of skilled engineers and competent scientists. These engineers and scientists should possess the ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering in order to design, analyze and fabricate nanodevices and nanosystems, which are radically different when compared with traditional technological systems. In this paper, the current status of the progress and developments in nanotechnology and nanoeducation is briefly reviewed, from the perspective of its applications. Strategies for teaching nanotechnology are also presented with a few basic samples.

Key-Words: - Nanoscience, Nanotechnology, Nanoeducation

1 Introduction at the nano length-scale. Atoms and molecules, or Nanotechnology and research on this area are becoming extended atomic or molecular structures, are considered more and more popular everyday. The emerging field of to be the basic units, or building-blocks, of fabricating nanoscience and nanotechnology is leading to a future generations of electronic devices, and materials. technological revolution in the new millennium. The At the nano-meter length scales, many diverse enabling application of nanotechnology has enormous potential to disciplines and associated technologies start to merge, greatly influence the world in which we live. From because these are derived from the rather similar consumer goods, electronics, computers, information properties of the atomic- or molecular- level building and biotechnology, to aerospace defense, energy, blocks. For example, on the one hand, the DNA environment, and medicine, all sectors of the economy molecular strands are these days proposed as the self- are to be profoundly impacted by nanotechnology. In the assembling templates for bio-sensors and detectors, United States, Europe, Australia, and Japan, several molecular electronics, and as the building blocks of all research initiatives have been undertaken both by biological materials. On the other hand, some synthetic government and members of the private sector to inorganic materials, such as carbon, boron-nitride or intensify the research and development in other nanotubes or nanowires, may also have similar nanotechnology. [1] functionalities in some respects, but could also be Hundreds of millions of dollars have been committed. exceptionally strong and stiff materials. The cross- Research and development in nanotechnology is likely to correlation and fertilization among the many constituent change the traditional practices of design, analysis, and disciplines, as enabling technologies for molecular manufacturing for a wide range of engineering products. nanotechnology, are thus essential for an accelerated This impact creates a challenge for the academic development. community to educate engineering students with the Researches and developments in nanotechnology will necessary knowledge, understanding, and skills to change the traditional practices of design, analysis, and interact and provide leadership in the emerging world of manufacturing for a wide range of engineering products. nanotechnology. [2] This impact creates a challenge for the academic Nanotechnology deals with materials, devices, and their community to educate students with the necessary applications, in areas such as engineered materials, knowledge, understanding, and skills to interact and electronics, computers, sensors, actuators, and machines, provide leadership in the emerging world of

ISBN: 978-960-6766-86-2 372 ISSN: 1790-2769 5th WSEAS / IASME International Conference on ENGINEERING EDUCATION (EE'08), Heraklion, Greece, July 22-24, 2008

nanotechnology [4]. Recent advances and envisioned such as nanotubes and fullerenes; the ability of the developments in enabling nanotechnology provide scanning probe and the development of manipulation challenges to academia in educating and training a new techniques to image and manipulate atomic and generation of skilled engineers and competent scientists. molecular configurations in real materials; the These engineers and scientists should possess the ability conceptualization and demonstration of individual to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and electronic and logic de vices with atomic or molecular engineering in order to design, analyze and fabricate level materials; the advances in the self-assembly of nanodevices and nanosystems, which are radically materials to be able to put together larger functional or different when compared with microdevices and integrated systems; and above all , the advances in microsystems. Atomic and molecular comprise computational nanotechnology, i.e., physics- and nanodevices and nanosystems, exhibit distinctive - based modeling and simulation of possible quantum phenomena and unique capabilities that must nanomaterials, devices and applications. It turns out that be utilized. Therefore, advanced theories, methods, tools at the nanoscale, devices and systems sizes have shrunk and technologies should be comprehensively covered sufficiently small, so that, it is possible to describe their and effectively delivered [5]. behaviors fairly accurately. The simulation technologies have become also predictive in nature, and many novel 2 General Framework of Nanotechnology concepts and designs have been first proposed based on modeling and simulations, and then were followed by In the simplest terms, the subject of nanoscience their realization or verification through experiments [3]. technology is defined as the science and technology of the direct or indirect manipulation of atoms and 3 Current Status of Nanoeducation molecules into functional structures, with applications Many attempts have been pursued to develop that were never envisioned before. The prefix “nano” interdisciplinary engineering and science curricula that corresponds to a basic unit on a length scale, meaning will allow undergraduate and graduate students to 10−9 meters, which is a hundred to a thousand times successfully enter and master the engineering and smaller than a typical biological cell or bacterium. At the science fields [7, 10]. To meet academic and industrial nanometer length scale, the dimensions of the materials challenges, different curricular, program, tracks and and devices begin to reach the limit of 10 to 100s of course models have been introduced. It becomes atoms, wherein entirely new physical and chemical increasingly difficult to achieve educational objectives effects are observed; and possibilities arise for the next and goals without a coherent unified theme. Recent generation of cutting-edge products based on the advances and envisioned developments in enabling ultimate miniaturization or so called “nanoization” of the nanotechnology provide challenges to academia in technology. The earliest impetus to the scientific and educating and training a new generation of skilled technological possibility of coaxing individual atoms engineers and competent scientists. These engineers and into the making of useful materials, devices and scientists should possess the ability to apply knowledge applications was given by the late Nobel- prize winning of mathematics, science, and engineering in order to physicist Richard Feynman, in a land mark lecture: design, analyze and fabricate nanodevices and “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom,” delivered at the nanosystems, which are radically different when American Physical Society (APS) meeting at Cal Tech compared with microdevices and microsystems. Atomic in 1959, in which he said, “The problems of chemistry and molecular comprise nanodevices and nanosystems, and biology can be greatly helped if our ability to see exhibit distinctive quantum phenomena and unique what we are doing, and to do things on an atomic level, capabilities that must be utilized. Therefore, advanced is ultimately developed - a development which I think theories, methods, tools and technologies should be cannot be avoided”. Indeed, scanning probe microscopes comprehensively covered and effectively delivered. (SPMs), in recent years, have already given us this The academic community is reacting slowly to prepare ability in limited domains, and spurred a tremendous the workforce for emerging opportunities in growth in the pursuit of nanotechnology in the last two nanotechnology. Currently, a small number of decades. A series of scientific and technological in the USA, Europe, Australia and Japan discoveries and progresses in a variety of areas in 1970s offer selective graduate programs in nanoscience and and 1980s, and the enunciation of visionary scenarios by nanotechnology in collaboration with research centers. Eric Drexler in a possible molecular nanotechnology- In the United States of America, federal and state enabled world, have revived the field in the 1980-90s. governments, academic institutions, industry and various The real progress in the last decade, has been due to a for profit and non profit organizations have developed series of advances in a variety of complementary areas, partnerships to establish nanotechnology research such as: the discoveries of atomically precise materials centers. The primary mission of these centers is to

ISBN: 978-960-6766-86-2 373 ISSN: 1790-2769 5th WSEAS / IASME International Conference on ENGINEERING EDUCATION (EE'08), Heraklion, Greece, July 22-24, 2008

North Dakota State College of Associate degree conduct research and development in the area of Science nanoscience and nanotechnology. Some research centers Australia/ X also support an associated graduate program within the New X Zealand RMIT University X patron university. In addition, faculty members in University of New South Wales X various institutions conduct and manage research X University of Technology, X programs in the areas of nanotechnology and Sydney nanoscience supported by funding organizations such as University of Western Sydney X the NSF, DoD, NIH, DARPA, etc. In the United States, X , X the following universities offer either graduate or Double Degree undergraduate courses in nanoscience or The X nanotechnology. [1] , New Zealand X Massey University, New Zealand X In the world, the following universities offer either Canada X graduate or undergraduate courses in nanoscience or X nanotechnology. [6] X McMaster University X India Andhra X Table 1. Nanoscience or nanotechnology courses in the University,Visakhapatnam world [12] Nano Indian: India's M.Tech,NanoScience & nanotechnology education and NanoTechnology Country University Programs research portal BS. MS. PhD Panjab University, Chandigarh University of Madras M.Sc., M.Tech Dual Universidade Federal do ABC Brazil X X Degree in Nanoscience Centro Universitário Franciscano, X and Nanotechnology UNIFRA Indian Institute of Science - X Mexico Instituto Nacional de Astrofisica, X X Masters Opticay Electronica Jadavpur University at Kolkata X X Universidad de las Américas X - Masters, PhD Czech Technical University of Ostrava X X Republic Amity University, Noida X X Denmark University of Aalborg X X X Integrated University of Aarhus X X X Institute of Technology, X Copenhagen University X X X Vellore, Tamilnadu Technical University of Denmark X X X University of Rajasthan at X Jaipur Master Nanotech France X Singapore National University of Singapore X Munich University of Applied Germany X Sciences Thailand X X - Center of X Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Israel Technion X X Italy University of Venice X Netherlands X Delft University of Technology X X Norway Norwegian University of Science X 3 Nanoeducation Curriculums and Technology The focus on microscopic consideration and X nanotechnology reflects curriculum changes in response Spain Master en Nanociencia y X Nanotecnologia Molecular to the engineering enterprise and entreaties of Sweden X evolutionary industrial demands. Nanotechnology has Chalmers University of X been introduced to attack, integrate and coherently solve Technology Switzerland Eidgenosslsche Technische X X a great variety of emerging problems in engineering, Hochschule science and technology. A diverse education community United X Kingdom X X has apparently different visions for what to target, X emphasize, cover and deliver in nanotechnology courses. X X Different approaches have been pursued by various X X X engineering, liberal art, science, technology and other University College London X schools and departments [7, 5]. The topics and material Post Graduate Certificate Turkey Bilkent University X covered in the undergraduate and graduate courses are United University of North Carolina at X quite diverse. Some nanotechnology-named courses States Charlotte Louisiana Tech University X X X embed and cover traditional quantum physics, organic X chemistry, microscopy, metrology, electronics and other The State University of New X X York conventional science and engineering topics using nano Dakota County Technical College Associates degree as a magnification prefix. A consensus has yet to be Chippewa Valley Technical Associates degree reached within the research and education communities College for a definition of nanotechnology. Richland College Associate degree University of Central Florida X

ISBN: 978-960-6766-86-2 374 ISSN: 1790-2769 5th WSEAS / IASME International Conference on ENGINEERING EDUCATION (EE'08), Heraklion, Greece, July 22-24, 2008

Engineering and science curricula integrate general technology is advancing so fast, activities that encourage education, science, engineering and technology courses. creative thinking, critical thinking and life-long learning Students typically have some deficiencies in various should be given the highest priority. aspects of quantum physics, engineering mathematics, Nanotechnology is truly interdisciplinary. An chemistry and biology. Multidisciplinary courses and interdisciplinary curriculum that encompasses a broad curricula represent a major departure from the understanding of basic sciences intertwined with conventional curricula. The attempt to substitute basic engineering sciences and information sciences pertinent courses can create significant challenges. An to nanotechnology is essential. Introductory interdisciplinary education encompasses and requires a nanotechnology courses should be taught more from the broader coverage of cornerstone science in addition to perspectives of concept development and qualitative the specialized in-depth topics, engineering design and analysis rather than mathematical derivations. Every fabrication. It is difficult, if not impossible, to substitute effort should be made to convey the big picture and how the cornerstone basic science and engineering courses by different learning exercises fit together to achieve course multidisciplinary courses which do not duplicate the objectives. Each course should be taught at the basic courses. The need for traditional courses, such as appropriate level with required prerequisites. Biology, Calculus, Chemistry and Quantum Physics is Teachers should begin introducing the concept of not eased, but is rather strengthened [7, 5, and 9]. This nanotechnology during freshman and sophomore factor should be counted in the nanotechnology engineering courses and continue throughout the curriculum developments. Introductory nanotechnology subsequent engineering science curriculum. Junior and topics can be introduced and emphasized through the senior design courses, specifically the capstone design required chemistry, biology, physics and freshman courses, should integrate modeling, simulation, control engineering courses. This provides a meaningful starting and optimization of nanodevices and nanosystems into point for students. An interdisciplinary curriculum the course objectives. In reality, nanotechnology is a encompasses a broad understanding of basic and branch of engineering and because design is the essence engineering sciences pertinent to nanotechnology. The of engineering, every effort should be made to integrate nanotechnology-centered research and education concepts related to nanotechnology into all design initiatives require close collaboration between courses. departments and colleges in order to provide viable Interactive learning should be the hallmark of educational and training opportunities. The unified nanotechnology education. Technology can play a studies of engineering and science potentially can be powerful role in facilitating interactive learning both advanced and enhanced through nanotechnology inside and outside the classroom. Students can curricula. In order to prepare students to solve participate in nanotechnology research development nanotechnological challenges, the nanotechnology projects and laboratory experiments all over the world education should be coherently incorporated into the via the Internet. Students should be given opportunities mainstream undergraduate engineering and science to work directly with established nanotechnology curriculum by: research centers (local, regional, national, international) 1. Coherently integrating nanotechnology within to gain hands-on experience. University faculty members traditional and modern science and engineering courses; must collaborate with industry in order to educate and 2. Developing new multidisciplinary courses train students in the field of nanotechnology. Utilizing a complementing not substituting and duplicating) team of faculty members specializing in appropriate traditional courses; disciplines to teach nanotechnology courses is highly 3. Procuring adequate infrastructure and advanced desirable. The inclusion of guest speakers from industry facilities to comprehensibly support learning and and research centers enhances the quality of available scholarship; courses. 4. Developing an interdisciplinary research opportunities It is important to educate engineering faculty rooted in and educational collaborations; the traditional disciplines regarding the advances in 5. Disseminating best practices; nanotechnology and the ways in which all engineering 6. Developing the student and faculty exchange disciplines will be impacted in the future. Governmental programs [8] bodies, industry and universities must take the initiative to allocate additional funds toward faculty development 3 Teaching Strategies in the areas of nanotechnology. [2] Nanotechnology should be taught by creating both knowledge-centered and learning-centered environments 4 Conclusion [11] inside and outside the classroom. Because the Basic science innovations, engineering developments and envisioned nanotechnological advances have

ISBN: 978-960-6766-86-2 375 ISSN: 1790-2769 5th WSEAS / IASME International Conference on ENGINEERING EDUCATION (EE'08), Heraklion, Greece, July 22-24, 2008

brought new challenges to academia. As a result, many Society for Engineering Education, Nashville, TN, schools have revised their curricula to offer relevant 2003. courses. Attempts to introduce nanotechnology have [11] Bransford, J., D., Brown, A.,L., and Cocking, R., been only partially successful due to the absence of R., "How People Learn", National Academy Press, coherent strategy and diverse views of what Washington, D.C. 1999. nanotechnology means. Coordinated efforts should be sought. It is necessary to educate engineering and science students with an ability to design, analyze and synthesize nanosystems. Nanotechnology education should be integrated into mainstream undergraduate engineering curricula. Government, industry and university bodies should foster collaboration among themselves in order to educate students in nanotechnology. This paper will help to other researchers

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ISBN: 978-960-6766-86-2 376 ISSN: 1790-2769