Jul 31 2014
The newly merged SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE)/SUNY Institute of Technology (SUNYIT) offered area high school students a unique opportunity to explore nanotechnology at a three-day academic day camp on CNSE/SUNYIT’s Utica campus.
The July 28-30 camp gave area high school students hands-on lab experiences with presentations about nano-applications and careers from Thomas Begley, Associate Professor of Nanobioscience and Associate Vice President and Director of the Systems Toxicology Laboratory, and Sara Brenner, Assistant Vice President for NanoHealth Initiatives and Assistant Professor of Nanobioscience. Camp attendees also toured the Computer Chip Commercialization Center (Quad-C) project.
“In keeping with Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Nano Utica initiative, nanotechnology camp and other STEM-related programs for K-12 students are an important part of CNSE/SUNYIT’s transformative role in shaping the regional workforce of the future,” said Robert Geer, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “In partnership with area school districts and sponsors, K-12 outreach provides encouragement and motivation for young people to choose New York’s 21st-century educational and career opportunities.”
The nanotechnology camp is one of a series of academic day camps being offered this summer on the Utica campus, along with robotics, girls' math & science, computer security, and renewable energy. The annual camps, taught by faculty and community partners, offer a variety of opportunities for area middle- and high-school students; the emphasis is on fun and challenging explorations for participants in the company of like-minded students.
“Students who attend our summer academic camps are passionate about the subjects they’re exploring,” said Elizabeth Rossi, K-12 outreach coordinator. “Professors create lively and diverse experiences to spark their imaginations and push them to broaden and deepen their thinking.”