Midwest Regional Center for Nanotechnology Education (Nano-Link) Renewal

项目概要纳米技术教育（纳米链接）的中西部区域中心建立在纳米链接的前三年的成功。纳米链接在整个上中西部产生了广泛而重大的影响。在接下来的3年里，该中心将为沿着从北达科他州到密歇根州的中西部走廊的其他学院提供资源和支持，因为他们开发了纳米科学和纳米技术项目和课程。参与范围正在从目前的六所社区学院和明尼苏达大学扩大到总共16所社区学院，沿着有不同程度的努力和支持，另外还增加了密歇根州立大学作为附属的四年制学院。Nano-Link与多所大学共享课程，资源和服务，有助于培养熟练的技术人员，从而提高该地区的纳米科学技术和经济增长。Nano-Link还将其行业网络从最初的30家明尼苏达州公司扩展到位于上中西部的88家公司。随着Nano-Link帮助更多的大学建立强大的行业网络来支持他们的课程，这个数字还在继续增长。这一努力为验证教育目标、支持纳米教育计划、提供实习机会和雇用毕业生提供了强有力的行业主导投入。使命Nano-Link为纳米技术教育计划建立公众意识和机构能力，这些计划为熟练的纳米科学技术人员在推动整个中西部地区经济的新兴领域工作做好准备。目标.在续约期间，Nano-Link专注于以下五个目标：1.加强行业参与，以确保与行业相关的课程，培养精通纳米技术的学生，劳动力准备就绪的毕业生和准备雇用他们的公司。2.开发纳米技术模块，用于多个组织的多种用途。3.通过招募和推广改善纳米计划，特别强调退伍军人和美洲原住民社区。4.继续改进纳米计划，以最大限度地提高学生的保留和成功。5.为高中和大学教师提供专业发展，使他们能够有效地教育学生掌握纳米技术。该项目的智力优势是基于继续扩大和改善科学和工程的新兴领域，这可以极大地影响我们国家的竞争力和未来的就业增长在许多行业的多学科纳米科学技术人员教育课程。Nano-Link还进一步扩大了区域教育机构和行业之间的协调伙伴关系，使这些学院能够提供高质量的纳米科学教育计划和课程。在这一努力取得成功的基础上，该课程的重要内容正在融入其他ATE中心的技术人员教育课程。Nano-Link与明尼苏达大学及其国家纳米技术仪器中心的持续合作关系确保Nano-Link能够获得最先进的实验室仪器，并深入了解纳米技术研究和纳米技术应用的最新方面。Nano-Link与行业合作伙伴的密切合作确保培训满足当前和预期的行业需求。该项目的更广泛的影响是基于协调复制/调整多学科纳米科学技术计划，用于整个地区的社区和技术学院的技术人员教育，以及将纳米课程模块扩展到其他NSF ATE中心及其附属学生和教师。Nano-Link的高中和大学STEM讲师外展活动直接影响了上中西部的数千名学生。通过文化上适当的外展活动，集中精力培训退伍军人和美洲原住民学生，可以使这些代表性不足的群体受益。Nano-Link致力于提供高质量的教育计划，为纳米科学技术人员做好准备，以满足行业的新兴需求，造福社会。

PROJECT SUMMARY The Midwest Regional Center for Nanotechnology Education (Nano-Link) builds upon the success of Nano-Link's first three years. Nano-Link has had broad and significant impacts across the Upper Midwest. During the next 3 years the center is providing resources and support to additional colleges along the Midwest corridor from North Dakota to Michigan as they develop nanoscience and nanotechnology programs and courses. Participation is being expanded from the current six community colleges and the University of Minnesota to a total of 16 community colleges at varying levels of effort and support, along with the addition of Michigan State University as an affiliate four-year institution. Nano-Link's sharing of curriculum, resources and services with multiple colleges is helping to prepare skilled technicians so that there is increased nanoscale science and technology and economic growth in the region. Nano-Link has also expanded its industry network from the original 30 Minnesota companies to 88 companies located throughout the Upper Midwest. This number continues to grow as Nano-Link helps additional colleges build strong industry networks to support their programs. This effort provides strong industry-led input for validating educational objectives, supporting nano education programs, providing internships and hiring graduates. MISSION. Nano-Link builds public awareness and institutional capacity for nanotechnology education programs that prepare skilled nanoscience technicians to work in the emerging fields that drive the economy across the Midwest Region. GOALS. During the renewal period, Nano-Link is focusing on the following five goals: 1. Strengthening industry participation to ensure an industry-relevant curriculum producing nano-savvy students, workforce-ready graduates and companies ready to hire them. 2. Developing nanotechnology modules for multiple uses across multiple organizations. 3. Growing nano programs through recruitment and outreach improvement with a special emphasis on veterans and Native American communities. 4. Continuing to improve nano programs in order to maximize student retention and success. 5. Delivering professional development to high school and college faculty that prepares them to effectively educate their students in nanotechnology. THE INTELLECTUAL MERIT of this project is based on continuing to expand and improve a multidisciplinary nanoscience technician education curriculum in an emerging field of science and engineering, which can greatly impact our nation's competitiveness and future job growth in many industries. Nano-Link is also further expanding its coordinated partnerships among regional educational institutions and industries that enable these colleges to offer quality nanoscience educational programs and courses. Building on the success of this effort, important elements of this curriculum are being integrated into the technician education curriculum of other ATE Centers. Nano-Link's ongoing partnership with the University of Minnesota and its National Center for Nanotechnology Instrumentation ensures that Nano-Link has access to state-of-the-art laboratory instrumentation and insight into the most current aspects of nanotechnology research and nanotechnology applications. Nano-Link's close collaborations with industry partners ensure that training meets current and anticipated industry needs. THE BROADER IMPACT of this project is based on the coordinated replication/adaptation of a multidisciplinary Nanoscience Technology program for technician education at community and technical colleges throughout the region as well as expansion of nano curriculum modules to other NSF ATE Centers and their affiliated students and instructors. Nano-Link's high school and college STEM instructor outreach activities directly impact thousands of students in the Upper Midwest. The focused effort to train veterans and Native American students through culturally-appropriate outreach can benefit these under-represented groups. Nano-Link is dedicated to providing high quality educational programs preparing nanoscience technicians to meet the emerging needs of industry for the benefit of society.