Minnesota Nanotechnology Workforce Initiative (MnNano)

该项目正在与明尼苏达大学合作，在达科他县技术学院(DCTC)建立一个纳米科学技术员计划。这一为期两年的A.A.S.学位课程正在为毕业生培养多学科技能，以满足明尼苏达州未来在这一新兴职业领域对技术人员的需求。学生们正在DCTC学习他们的前三个学期，完成现有的普通教育以及新开发的纳米科学技术课程。第四学期是明尼苏达大学的顶峰体验，涉及明尼苏达大学纳米加工、粒子技术和材料表征实验室的实验室经验。Capstone体验包括补充实验室经验的讲座课程和随着生物技术、医疗设备、农业、材料制造和电子等纳米技术行业的发展而进行的实习。还有一个主要努力是通过暑期纳米科学课程模块和高中生夏令营以及通过纳米科学服务和高中教师实习来吸引高中生从事纳米科学职业。这一针对高中生的无缝过渡计划重点是招收代表人数较少的少数族裔学生参加这些夏令营，然后目标是招收他们进入DCTC为期两年的AAS学位项目。该项目包括社区大学合作伙伴诺曼代尔社区学院和明尼苏达技术学院、拉克维尔高中、专业协会、行业协会和全州的行业合作伙伴。该计划还与宾夕法尼亚州立大学的NSF ATE纳米制造教育区域中心建立了密切的关系，并正在调整其计划的内容，以及全国其他机构的课程。这个项目的智力价值是基于在一个新兴的高科技领域开发一个多学科的纳米科学技术员教育课程，该领域将极大地影响我们的国家竞争力和未来许多行业的就业增长，如生物技术、医疗器械、农业、材料和电子。该项目的更广泛影响是，虽然它将为技术人员教育和培训开发一个新的纳米科学学位课程，但它也为高中生提供了独特的拓展，并为在职教师，特别是需要吸引到新的高科技研究领域的代表不足的少数群体提供培训。预计明尼苏达州立学院和大学系统中的37家机构将以此为榜样，在该州开发一套核心的纳米技术AAS学位课程。

This project is establishing a Nanoscience Technician program at Dakota County Technical College (DCTC) in partnership with the University of Minnesota. This two-year A.A.S. degree program is preparing graduates with the multidisciplinary skills necessary for the future technician workforce needs of Minnesota in this emerging career field. Students are taking their first three semesters at DCTC, completing existing general education as well as newly developed nanoscience technical courses. The fourth semesteris a capstone experience at the University of Minnesota involving lab experience in the U of Minnesota Nanofabrication, Particle Technology and Materials Characterization laboratories. The capstone experience includes lecture courses that complement the lab experiences and internships with growing nanotechnology industries in biotechnology, medical devices, agriculture, materials manufacturing and electronics.There is also a major effort focused on attracting high school students to careers in nanoscience through summer Nanoscience Curriculum Modules and Camps for high school students, as well as through Nanoscience Inservices and Internships for high school teachers. This seamless transition program for high school students focuses a significant effort to recruit underrepresented minority students to these summer camps and then target to recruit them into the DCTC two-year AAS degree program. The project includes community college partners Normandale Community College and MinnesotaTechnical College, Lakeville High School, professional societies, industry associations, and industry partners across the state. The program has also formed a close relationship with the NSF ATE regional center at Penn State for nanofabrication manufacturing education and is adapting elements of its program, as well as curriculum from other institutions around the nation. The Intellectual Merit of this project is based on developing a multidisciplinary nanoscience technician education curriculum in an emerging high tech field which will greatly impact on our national competitiveness and future job growth in many industries, such as biotechnology, medical devices, agriculture, materials and electronics. The Broader Impact of this project is that, while it will develop a new nanoscience degree program for technician education and training, it also provides the unique outreach to high school students and provides training for in-service teachers and especially underrepresented minorities needed to be attracted to a new high technology field of study. The expectation is that 37 institutions in the Minnesota State College and University system will use this as a model to develop a core set of nanotechnology AAS degree programs in the state.