Remote Access to the Stanford Nanofabrication Facility

Stanford Nanofabrication Facility staff developed Remote Access activities for the NanoTeach professional development workshops. The three planned activities are:

    RA #1: Nanotechnology Cleanroom tour
    RA #2: Laboratory Experience in Nanotechnology (carbon nanotubes)
    RA #3: Panel discussion of Education/Careers in Nanotechnology

The tour activity is similar to the tour given to the development group in the NanoLeap program, but now will be enhanced with two-way video communication. The laboratory experience will involve learning how researchers grow, image (using optical, electron, and atomic-force microscopes), and electrically characterize carbon nanotubes. A walk-through of this activity was completed in April 2009 with NanoTeach staff acting as workshop participants. Below are some screen captures taken in Denver of this live activity from SNF.

Maurice Stevens of SNF showing a nanotube synthesis system. Courtesy: Stanford Nanofabrication Facility (SNF)		A nanoscience researcher in SNF Courtesy: Stanford Nanofabrication Facility (SNF)
Measuring the electrical resistivity of nanotubes in SNF lab Courtesy: Stanford Nanofabrication Facility (SNF)		Students watching tour of SNF cleanroom remotely Courtesy: McREL/SNF

The panel discussion involved researchers, lab technicians, and industrial nanotechnologists discussing various topics regarding working in the nanoscience world, including education, training, and other issues concerning what is required and what it is like to work in this field.

This work is supported by the National Science Foundation, Division of Research on Learning in
Formal and Informal Settings (DRL), #DRL-0822128.

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those
of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.