NNCI: Mid-Atlantic Nanotechnology Hub (MANTH)

纳米技术是一门应用于微小领域的科学，它正在彻底改变我们的生活--其中一些例子包括更快的电子产品、更小的生物医学植入物、更好的电池、具有高强度或自清洁能力的材料，以及可以感知我们物理世界的小型机器。纳米技术的发展往往需要获得一个大型和高度专业化的制造和表征基础设施以及相关的科学知识。中大西洋纳米技术中心（MANTH）是宾夕法尼亚大学（Penn）和费城社区学院（CCP）之间的合作伙伴关系，不仅提供研究和开发基础设施，还提供纳米技术的教育推广机会。研究和开发的访问是通过宾夕法尼亚大学的辛格纳米技术中心提供的，该中心位于交通便利的费城-距离一百多个学术机构和工业丰富的大西洋中部地区只有很短的车程，步行即可到达忙碌美国铁路公司繁忙的火车站，距离一个主要的航空枢纽8英里。MANTH还通过广泛的教育和推广计划向我们的区域社区介绍纳米技术，这些计划涉及大学预科学生（包括反向实地考察和现场计划），副学士学位学生（包括实习机会和CCP课程开发），本科生（包括本科生研究经验计划）和研究生。MANTH运营翻译种子资助计划，允许新的想法被推进到原型，可以激发新的纳米技术公司。通过欢迎研究人员进入MANTH，以及教育和告知我们的社区，我们催化我们地区和整个国家的纳米技术研究和创新进步。技术描述：NNCI的中大西洋纳米技术中心（MANTH）是宾夕法尼亚大学（Penn）和费城社区学院（CCP）之间的研究基础设施和劳动力发展合作伙伴关系。MANTH为在纳米科学、工程和技术的所有学科中开展活动的研究人员提供开放的前沿研发设施和专业知识。MANTH的劳动力发展计划提供多个级别的纳米相关教育和培训机会-从高中，通过副学士学位（与CCP），到本科和研究生学习。MANTH为近700名用户提供服务，其中超过40%的用户目前在Penn之外。MANTH优先考虑与该地区合作，以确保历史上代表性不足的研究人员和研究领域以及这些当前和未来研究人员的教育工作者的多样化，包括在我们的纳米技术活动中。我们举办大学预科活动，让学生接触STEM和纳米技术，并为当地学院和大学提供内部培训机会，包括历史上STEM代表性不足的学院。我们接触到服务不足的学校（学生和教师）在费城地区都通过我们的纳米日活动，以及通过个人活动。我们参观当地小学的“反向实地考察”，讨论纳米技术。 我们通过为我们的设施提供种子资助，以使创新的新想法成为原型，以及为当地小企业提供其他支持，从而促进从研究到产品的道路。通过作为该地区纳米技术发展的催化剂，我们实现了在各个层面上进一步普及纳米知识的目标。该奖项反映了NSF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:Nanotechnology, the application of the science of the very small, is revolutionizing our lives - a few examples include faster electronics, smaller biomedical implants, better batteries, materials with high strength or self-cleaning abilities, and small machines that can sense our physical world. Nanotechnology development often requires access to a large and highly specialized fabrication and characterization infrastructure as well as the related scientific expertise. The Mid-Atlantic Nanotechnology Hub (MANTH) is a partnership between the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) and the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) that provides not only research and development infrastructure access, but also educational outreach opportunities in nanotechnology. Research and development access is provided through Penn’s Singh Center for Nanotechnology, located in highly accessible Philadelphia - a short drive from over one hundred academic institutions and the industry-rich mid-Atlantic region, walking distance from a busy Amtrak rail station, and eight miles from a major air hub. MANTH also introduces our regional community to nanotechnology through extensive education and outreach programs that engage pre-college students (including reverse field trips and on-site programs), associates degree students (including internship opportunities and curriculum development with CCP), undergraduate students (including a Research Experiences for Undergraduates program), and graduate students. MANTH operates translational seed grant programs to allow new ideas to be advanced to prototypes that can spark new nanotechnology companies. By welcoming researchers into MANTH, as well as educating and informing our community, we catalyze research and innovation advances in nanotechnology in our region and throughout the nation.Technical Description:The Mid-Atlantic Nanotechnology Hub (MANTH) of NNCI is a research infrastructure and workforce development partnership between the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) and the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP). MANTH provides open access to leading-edge R&D facilities and expertise for researchers conducting activities within all disciplines of nanoscale science, engineering, and technology. MANTH’s workforce development programs provide nano-relevant education and training opportunities at multiple levels – from high school, through associate’ degrees (with CCP), to undergraduate and graduate studies. MANTH serves nearly 700 users, with over 40% of these users currently external to Penn. It is a MANTH priority to engage with the region to ensure that a diverse set of historically underrepresented researchers and research areas, as well as educators of these current and future researchers, are included in our nanotechnology activities. We hold pre-college events for exposure to STEM and nanotechnology, and in-house training opportunities for local colleges and universities, including historically STEM-underrepresented colleges. We reach out to underserved schools (both students and teachers) in the Philadelphia region both through our Nano Day activities, as well as through individual events. We visit local elementary schools on ‘reverse field trips’ to discuss nanotechnology. We facilitate the path from research to product by providing seed grant access to our facility to allow innovative new ideas to be prototyped, together with other support for local small businesses. By acting as a catalyst for growth of nanotechnology in this region, we realize our goal to further nano literacy on all levels.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.