NNCI: KY Multiscale

非技术描述：NSF NNCI肯塔基多尺度站点是路易斯维尔大学和肯塔基大学之间的合作，专注于将纳米技术与增材制造的最新进展相结合，以实现科学发现，创造新产品，探索新的应用空间，并培训我们的下一代科学家和工程师。随着纳米技术成为科学发现和应用工程不可或缺的一部分，迫切需要最先进的基础设施来支持宏观系统中纳米级器件的快速有效原型设计。KY Multiscale的目标是将微/纳米制造工艺与新兴的先进制造技术（如增材制造、气溶胶喷射和双光子3D打印）相结合，为研究人员提供完整的工具集，以探索纳米技术解决医疗保健、能源、环境、通信和安全等关键领域的现实问题。KY Multiscale是全国首个开放访问的用户设施，专注于三维微/纳米制造和真正的多尺度集成。KY Multiscale的用户可以访问跨越纳米到米尺度的设计，模拟和制造资源，以及有效整合这些过程的专业知识。KY Multiscale还提供各种各样的教育培训和外展活动，以吸引当前的学生，并激励我们国家的下一代崭露头角的科学家和工程师，重点是增加代表性不足人群的参与。技术描述：KY Multiscale的三个目标是：1)为需要纳米到宏观集成的传统和新兴领域的研究人员扩展我们的站点的能力和利用。这种扩展将通过新的能力（例如，多尺度快速原型的独特设施）和多管齐下的用户支持方法（例如，来自非传统背景的用户的种子计划，广泛的推广工作等）来实现。2)在不同长度尺度的纳米技术和先进制造集成方面提供智力领导。这将通过NNCI网络内（例如在网络组织、会议和研究社区中的领导地位）和网络外（例如新的俄亥俄谷网络和扩展我们广受欢迎的KY Nano+AM研讨会）的一系列活动来实现。3)提供终身学习的机会，建立一个积极参与的多元化社区和训练有素的劳动力，准备用多尺度解决方案应对社会挑战。为了实现这一目标，我们将实施一系列涉及多个教育层次的不同社区的新项目（例如HBCU与FAMU-FSU的新合作，支持纳米+AM制造的本科研究，以及为URM中学教师提供的新的专业发展项目NanoEducate）。这些努力的成功将由一个纳米技术教育合作者使用既定的指标和对直接影响的仔细监测来仔细评估。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Non-Technical Description:The NSF NNCI Kentucky Multiscale Site is a collaboration between the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky focused on integrating nanotechnology with the latest advances in additive manufacturing to enable scientific discovery, create new products, explore new application spaces, and train our next generation of scientists and engineers. With nanotechnology now integral to scientific discovery and applied engineering, there is a pressing need for state-of-the-art infrastructure that supports the rapid and effective prototyping of nano-scale devices in macro-scale systems. The goal of KY Multiscale is to combine micro/nano fabrication processes with emerging advanced manufacturing technologies, such as additive manufacturing, aerosol jetting, and two photon 3D printing, to provide researchers with the complete toolset needed to explore nanotechnology solutions to real-life problems in critical areas such as healthcare, energy, the environment, communication, and security. KY Multiscale is the first open-access user facility nationwide with a focus on three-dimensional micro/nano fabrication and true multi-scale integration. Users of KY Multiscale have access to design, simulation, and fabrication resources that span the nanometer to meter scales, and the expertise to effectively integrate these processes. KY Multiscale also provides a wide variety of educational training and outreach activities to engage current students and inspire our nation’s next generation of budding scientists and engineers with an emphasis on increasing participation from under-represented populations.Technical Description:The three goals of KY Multiscale are: 1) To expand our site’s capabilities for and utilization by researchers in both traditional and emerging fields that require nano-to-macro integration. This expansion will occur through new capabilities (e.g. unique facilities for multiscale rapid prototyping), and a multipronged approach to user support (e.g. seed programs for users from non-traditional backgrounds, broad-based promotional efforts, etc), 2) To provide intellectual leadership in nanotechnology and advanced manufacturing integration across various length scales. This will be accomplished through a range of activities both within the NNCI network (e.g. leadership in network organizations, conferences, and research communities) and outside the network (e.g. new Ohio Valley Network and expansion of our popular KY Nano+AM Symposium), and 3) To provide opportunities for lifelong learning to build an engaged diverse community and trained workforce ready to address society’s challenges with multiscale solutions. To accomplish this, we will implement a range of new programs involving diverse communities across several educational levels (e.g. new HBCU collaboration with FAMU-FSU, supporting undergraduate research in nano+AM manufacturing, and a new professional development program for URM middle school teachers called NanoEducate). Success in these efforts will be carefully assessed by a nanotechnology education collaborator using both established metrics and careful monitoring of immediate impacts.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.