October 21, 2008: The College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) of the University at Albany announced plans for the first celebration of “NANOvember,” a month-long series of events and activities that showcase the exciting world of nanotechnology and the global leadership of the UAlbany NanoCollege in the most important science of the 21st century.
Throughout NANOvember, a variety of activities are planned to engage students, teachers, parents and community members in nanotechnology — described by the National Nanotechnology Initiative as “leading to the next Industrial Revolution” — and to highlight CNSE’s educational program, ranked by Small Times magazine as number one in the world for nanotechnology, and its $4.5 billion Albany NanoTech Complex, an advanced research enterprise with more than 250 global corporate partners.
NANOvember kicks off with CNSE’s Community Day on Saturday, November 1, with a schedule of events that includes the unveiling of an exhibit in Colonie Center believed to be the nation’s first nanotechnology display in a shopping mall; hosting of a national conference on the convergence of nanobioscience and medicine; educational programs, such as “NanoCareer Day” for students and “Educating the Educators” for teachers; a series of community lectures highlighting CNSE’s pioneering education, cutting-edge research and significant economic impact; and, an open house for prospective graduate students.
NANOvember is presented as part of “NEXSTEP,” or “Nanotechnology Explorations for Science, Training and Education Promotion,” a partnership between CNSE and KeyBank featuring educational initiatives that promote greater understanding of the changing economic and business environment in the Capital Region and New York State being driven by nanotechnology.
“NANOvember is an exciting extension of the NEXSTEP initiative and its effort to help people understand the importance of nanotechnology and how and why nanotechnology is changing the Capital Region,” said Jeffrey Stone, president, Capital Region, KeyBank NA. “In the current economic landscape, this is a bright spot, as nanotech growth in our region, led by the UAlbany NanoCollege, will expand the tax base, attract more businesses and, most important, create more better-paying jobs.”
More than 300 elementary, middle- and high-school students got an inside look at the high-tech workplace of the future when they participated in NanoCareer Day held at CNSE in October, 2008.