by Adele Maurier, Design Coordinator

It was a great day at SEE on Wednesday! SEE formally opened our newest exhibit, Nano. The exhibit is part of an effort to bring more cutting edge science topics to our audience. We were pleased to be joined by guests who share our goal to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Our guests represented Nanocomp Technologies, FIRST, UNH Manchester, Velcro and Manchester Historic Association.

We were also joined by a group of summer campers from Hopkinton, NH. The campers and visitors from the general public were invited to enjoy a presentation by Dr. Mark Banash , Chief Scientist from Nanocomp Technologies, who shared models of the nano particles he helps make in Merrimack NH, and what inspired him to become a scientist (It was a fascination with how sugar dissolves in iced tea!). Nanocomp is the only commercial producer of high performance, strong, light and conductive sheets, tapes, and yarns made with high concentrations of carbon nanotube (CNTs) fibers.
SEE Executive Director Douglas Heuser invited everyone to continue to learn about nano science by visiting the exhibit, and by participating in SEE programs throughout the year. He also invited everyone to enjoy the special snacks, including mini-m&m’s which measure 10 million nanometers across.

(Do you like my idea to represent molecules with grapes and blueberries?)

My co-workers wrote the grant for this exhibit nearly two years ago. So we are very excited to finally have it here at SEE. Nano is produced by the Nanoscale Informal Science Education (NISE) Network with funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF). It was fabricated by the Science Museum of Minnesota (SMM). Additional information about nanoscience can be found the NISE website: whatisnano.org.