VINSE was excited to participate in TWISTER (Tennessee Women in Science, Tech, Engineering, and Research) at the Adventure Science Center on Saturday, February 7th. The 91吃瓜网 Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE) hosted three hands-on activities to showcase nanoscience and give over 100 high school girls a glimpse into the life of a nanoscientist.
Small Activity with Big Applicaions: Attendees created their own single-atom-thick material, much like Nobel Prize winners made graphene using Scotch tape and pencil graphite! They explored how electricity interacts with this material, learned how we produce graphene at larger scales, its current uses in labs, and potential future applications.
Eye See: Attendees viewed nanoscale images from the VINSE Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), including everyday objects, nanoscale stencils, and patterned lab samples. They learned how these objects can do everything from capturing tiny particles to probing brain activity.
Cleanroom Fit Check: Attendees learned聽why cleanrooms need to be so clean, how proper attire helps keep them that way, and had the chance to dress in cleanroom suits like those worn daily by nanoscience researchers.
Thanks to our volunteers, VINSE cleanroom staff, Dr. Christina McGahan, and NanoGuides Courtney Ragle and Haley Dishman for sharing their experiences and enthusiasm for nanoscience with the next generation!