The Micro Nano Technology Education Center (MNT-EC)

微米和纳米技术增强了数千种常用设备的性能。 例如，微米和纳米技术用于制造电子设备的组件，如计算机，手机，可穿戴活动监视器和医疗传感器。 它也被用来改进产品，如制造持续时间更长的网球，防水的布和防止细菌生长的绷带。 随着微米和纳米技术越来越多地用于改进产品和创造新产品，预计微米和纳米技术行业在可预见的未来将经历两位数的增长。 因此，需要高技能的技术劳动力，以跟上微型和纳米技术行业的需求和变化。 为了支持美国各地的这支劳动力队伍的准备，该项目将建立和支持NSF先进技术教育计划的微纳米技术教育中心（MNT-EC）。MNT-EC将直接增加参与微型和纳米技术技术人员教育的社区学院教师的数量，从而支持更多获得微型和纳米技术领域技术教育学位和证书的学生。 因此，该项目将支持在对国家经济、安全和健康有巨大影响的领域培养熟练的技术劳动力。该项目将由帕萨迪纳城市学院与埃德蒙兹社区学院、波特兰社区学院和西北维斯塔学院合作领导。此外，MNT-EC将连接现有的微和纳米NSF ATE资源中心（NACK，SCME，NEATEC和MatEdu）。 因此，MNT-EC将利用广泛的专业知识，为微型和纳米产品的制造准备全国熟练的技术劳动力。MNT-EC的每个成员将带来资源，如洁净室，教育材料和实验室仪器的远程操作，以支持和通知副学士学位和微纳米技术证书的共同课程的开发。该课程的内容将根据行业成员的需求进行通知，并通过学术和行业成员之间的年度审查进行更新。学术机构的教师将通过学术和行业成员提供的各种专业（如安全，制造，操作）的定期研讨会或网络研讨会，保持当前的微和纳米技术创新。MNT-EC将绘制微型和纳米技术行业最大的地方以及它正在增长的地方，并促进这些地方附近的区域两年制机构对MNT-EC课程的适应。该项目由先进技术教育计划资助，该计划侧重于为推动国家经济的先进技术领域培养技术人员。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Micro- and nanotechnology enhances the performance of thousands of commonly used devices. For example, micro- and nanotechnology is used to make components of electronic devices such as computers, cell phones, wearable activity monitors, and medical sensors. It is also used to improve products, such as making tennis balls that last longer, cloth that repels water, and bandages that prevent bacterial growth. As micro- and nanotechnologies are increasingly used to improve products and create new ones, micro- and nanotechnology industries are expected to experience double-digit growth into the foreseeable future. Consequently, a highly skilled technical workforce is needed to keep pace with the demands of and the changes in micro- and nanotechnology industries. To support preparation of this workforce across the United States, this project will establish and support the NSF Advanced Technological Education Program’s Micro Nano Technology Education Center (MNT-EC). The MNT-EC will directly increase the numbers of community college faculty participating in micro- and nanotechnology technician education, thus supporting an increased number of students who receive technical education degrees and certificates in micro- and nanotechnology fields. As a result, this project will support preparation of a skilled technical workforce in a field that has enormous impact on the nation’s economy, security, and health. This project will be led by Pasadena City College in collaboration with Edmonds Community College, Portland Community College, and Northwest Vista College. In addition, the MNT-EC will connect existing micro and nano NSF ATE Resource Centers (NACK, SCME, NEATEC, and MatEdu). As a result, MNT-EC will leverage a broad set of expertise to prepare a nationwide skilled technical workforce for manufacture of micro and nano products. Each member of the MNT-EC will bring resources, such as cleanrooms, educational materials, and remote operation of lab instruments, to support and inform the development of a common curriculum for associate degrees and certificates in micro nano technologies. The content of this curriculum will be informed by the needs of industry members and be updated via annual reviews between academic and industry members. The faculty of the academic institutions will remain current in micro- and nanotechnology innovations via periodic workshops or webinars across the various specializations (such as safety, fabrication, operations) provided by the academic and industry members. The MNT-EC will map where the micro- and nanotechnology industry is greatest and where it is growing and promote adaptation of the MNT-EC curriculum at regional two-year institutions near these locations. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy.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.