NNCI: Mid-Atlantic Nanotechnology Hub (MANTH)

非技术描述：纳米技术是对微小科学的应用，它正在彻底改变我们的生活——一些例子包括更快的电子设备、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，以及能够感知我们的物理世界的小型机器。纳米技术的发展往往需要一个庞大的、高度专业化的制造和表征基础设施，以及相关的科学专业知识。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）之间的一个合作伙伴关系，它不仅提供研究和开发基础设施，而且还提供纳米技术的教育推广机会。宾夕法尼亚大学的辛格纳米技术中心位于交通便利的费城，距一百多所学术机构和工业丰富的大西洋中部地区只有很短的车程，距离繁忙的美铁火车站只有几步之遥，距离主要的航空枢纽只有8英里。MANTH还通过广泛的教育和推广项目向我们的地区社区介绍纳米技术，这些项目包括大学预科学生（包括反向实地考察和现场项目）、副学士学生（包括实习机会和与CCP的课程开发）、本科生（包括本科生研究经验项目）和研究生。MANTH运营着转化种子资助项目，允许将新想法推进到原型中，从而催生新的纳米技术公司。通过欢迎研究人员进入MANTH，以及教育和告知我们的社区，我们促进了我们地区和整个国家纳米技术的研究和创新进展。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伙伴关系。MANTH为研究人员在纳米科学、工程和技术的所有学科中开展活动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了多层次的纳米相关教育和培训机会——从高中到副学士学位（有CCP），再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%的用户目前在宾夕法尼亚大学外部。与该地区合作，确保历史上代表性不足的研究人员和研究领域的多样化，以及这些当前和未来研究人员的教育工作者，都包括在我们的纳米技术活动中，这是MANTH的优先事项。我们举办大学预科活动，让学生接触STEM和纳米技术，并为当地的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。我们通过纳米日活动和个人活动，向费城地区服务不足的学校（包括学生和教师）伸出援手。我们通过“反向实地考察”访问当地的小学，讨论纳米技术。我们通过提供种子基金进入我们的设施，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路径。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进一步提高纳米素养的目标。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: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.