STEM and Nanotechnology Family Day Highlights NANOvember 2024

Young students watch a robotic dog in action at STEM and Nanotechnology Family Day at ETEC in February, 2024.
Students watch a robotic dog in action at STEM and Nanotechnology Family Day at ETEC in February, 2024. (Photo by Savanna Stoddart)

By Michael Parker

ALBANY, N.Y. (Oct. 29, 2024) — UAlbany’s College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering (CNSE) is welcoming students from throughout the Capital Region on Saturday, Nov. 23, to STEM and Nanotechnology Family Day, providing a glimpse of cutting edge science and technology that is being developed right here in upstate New York.

The event marks the culmination of NANOvember, the month-long celebration of how nanotechnology is making a difference in our lives now and in the future.

NANOvember at UAlbany begins on Nov. 6 with a discussion on the intersection of nanotechnology, biology and Artificial Intelligence (AI), the first of a three-part lecture series.

New York State Master Teachers, corporate partners from NYCREATES-Albany NanoTech and UAlbany student organizations from CNSE and the Atmospheric Science Research Center will host more than 20 hands-on STEM activities and experiments at ETEC starting at 9:30 a.m.

The College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity (CEHC) will host an activity centered around Legos, while other UAlbany science departments will also be on hand to showcase groundbreaking research. Participating students will get the opportunity to learn about and manipulate drones and robots.

Tours of the New York State Mesonet will also be available for those interested in atmospheric science as members of the Climate Science program host demonstrations using the UAlbany Science Sphere in ETEC.

In addition, middle school and high school students can attend a session to explore how to prepare for study and careers in nanotechnology, engineering, and science with industry leaders and UAlbany faculty.

Children will discover how working with atoms and molecules can make the extraordinary happen, from fun household experiments to running the world’s most innovative computers.

Activities suitable for children 2nd through 8th grades. The event will run from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at ETEC on the Harriman campus.

NANOvember Lecture Series 2024

In addition to STEM and Nanotechnology Family Day, CNSE will host three lectures on the ways in which nanotechnology is permeating across many scientific disciplines throughout NANOvember.

The first lecture, “Lessons From the Living World – The Intersection of Nanotechnology and Biology,” features Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Nanoscale Science and Engineering Nathaniel Cady on Wednesday, Nov. 6. The event will be held in ETEC room 149A/151A at 6 p.m., with doors opening at 5:15 p.m.

During the lecture, Cady will discuss how nanotechnology and nanoscale fabrication techniques hold promise for a wide range of research areas ranging from computer chip technologies to biological and biomedical technologies. Cady will provide an overview of his research in the areas of biosensors, development of novel computing hardware for neuromorphic computing and artificial intelligence platforms.

On Monday, Nov. 11, Professor of Nanoscale Science and Engineering Yubing Xie will speak on “The Convergence of Nanotechnology and Regenerative Engineering in the Era of Aging.” The event will be held in ETEC room 149A/151A at 6 p.m., with doors opening at 5:15 p.m.

Xie’s lecture will touch on how the convergence of nanotechnology, biomedical engineering and cell biology has led to emerging approaches to integrating biologically active components, such as cells and proteins into micro- and nanofabricated scaffolds and devices. These bioengineered systems present exciting opportunities to serve as models for the understanding of disease, drug testing and development of cell therapy, especially as it relates to age-related diseases.

On Nov. 21, Anton deVilliers, the vice president for Research and Development at Tokyo Electron Limited, USA (TEL) will present “The Hitchhikers Guide to Patterning and Lithography. The event will be held in the Nanofab South Auditorium at the Department of Nanoscale Science and Technology on the NYCREATES/Albany Nanotech Complex at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5:15 p.m.

In the manufacturing of semiconductors, lithography is a fabrication process that transfers highly sophisticated circuit patterns onto a silicon wafer to create semiconductor devices such as microchips. At TEL, deVilliers oversees advanced lithography and pattern pathfinding, which are critical steps in the creation of integrated circuits.

NOTE: Non-U.S. citizens must register at least two weeks in advance for Albany NanoTech Complex events. All registrants will receive a follow up email a few days prior to the event date to confirm your security clearance and approval to attend the event at the Albany NanoTech Complex. No photography is permitted inside the building.