Supporting Governor Andrew Cuomo’s innovative strategy to build a high-tech educational pipeline for New York’s emerging nanotechnology sector, the SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering’s Children’s Museum of Science and Technology (CNSE CMOST) will recognize The Junior League of Troy, General Electric, and the Arsenal Business & Technology Partnership with its highest honors, the “Explore * Discover * Imagine” Awards, during CNSE CMOST’s 60th Anniversary Celebration to be held on Tuesday, November 12 at CNSE Kiernan Plaza.
“We are gratified to see the outpouring of support for CNSE CMOST, which is an integral component of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s pioneering vision for providing students with next-generation skills to build and sustain New York’s expanding nanotechnology economy,” said Dr. Alain E. Kaloyeros, CNSE Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer. “We salute The Junior League of Troy, General Electric, and the Arsenal Business & Technology Partnership for assisting CNSE CMOST in addressing the critical challenge of educating children in the areas that are fueling growth in the 21st century economy, led by nanotechnology.”
“Amid the rapid transformation of the Capital Region into the center of the global nanotechnology revolution, we have an obligation to prepare our children for the exciting opportunities that await them,” said CNSE CMOST Board Chair Paul Fahey. “We appreciate the support of outstanding organizations like The Junior League of Troy, General Electric, and the Arsenal Business & Technology Partnership, which enables CNSE CMOST to carry out and expand this critical educational mission.”
“CNSE CMOST is proud to be at the forefront of instilling in children a sense of excitement, wonder, and discovery when it comes to science, particularly with nanotechnology, as it drives exciting educational and career opportunities for the engineers and researchers of tomorrow,” said Deborah Onslow, CNSE CMOST Chief Executive Officer. “The support we have received from organizations like The Junior League of Troy, General Electric, and the Arsenal Business & Technology Partnership, led by Alan Goldberg and Peter Gannon, is vitally important to creating a powerful ecosystem for the advancement of scientific research and development in the Capital Region and across New York.”
The Junior League of Troy will receive the “Friend of CNSE CMOST Award” for its role in founding the museum 60 years ago as the Junior Museum. At the time one of the first of its kind in the nation, CNSE CMOST has since been recognized nationally by Parents Magazine as a top 20 science center.
General Electric will be honored with the “CNSE CMOST Community Award” as a longtime supporter of numerous hands-on activities and exhibits, including most recently the creation of the GE Junior Discovery Room, which encourages preschool-aged children to immerse themselves in the fascinating world of science.
And, the Arsenal Business & Technology Partnership, including Board of Trustees Chairman Alan Goldberg and President Peter Gannon, will be awarded the “CNSE CMOST Education Award” for providing scholarships that allowed 10 elementary students from Watervliet schools to attend Summer NanoCamp programs at CNSE CMOST, and for their commitment to expand the program in 2014.
More than 200 people are registered to attend the evening reception, which will feature several of the museum’s hands-on nanotechnology-based activities that help children learn about the world of science and its many opportunities. They include opportunities to discover the properties of static electricity through the use of a Van de Graaff electrostatic generator; to explore the chemical properties of dry ice; and to investigate how a “memory metal” behaves based on its nanoscale structure.
The event will take place at the CNSE Smart Cities Technology Innovation Center (SCiTI), located at CNSE Kiernan Plaza in Albany, which is helping to transform New York into a hub for the creation of smart devices, sensors, and computer chips, while simultaneously providing unparalleled educational opportunities.
The CNSE CMOST 60th Anniversary Celebration is part of CNSE’s popular community and educational outreach initiative known as “NANOvember,” now in its sixth year, which is designed to demonstrate the exciting world of nanotechnology and the recognized global leadership of CNSE and New York State. For a complete list of events and activities, visit www.sunycnse.com/NANOvember.aspx.