Apr 23 2008
The City School District of Albany ("CSDA") and the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) of the University at Albany will build on the success of their pioneering "NanoHigh" program by partnering to present the first-ever Capital Region NanoEducation Summit on Wednesday, April 23 at CNSE's Albany NanoTech Complex.
More than 100 teachers, administrators and school board members from throughout the region are scheduled to attend the forum, which is designed to increase educators' awareness about preparing K-12 students for science literacy - with a focus on the emerging field of nanotechnology, which has been described by the National Nanotechnology Initiative as "leading to the next Industrial Revolution."
The NanoEducation Summit will feature discussion of CSDA and CNSE's groundbreaking "NanoHigh" program, which is believed to be the first-of-its-kind at any public school in the country. Through "NanoHigh," more than 30 students are studying nanotechnology as part of two courses that combine classroom learning at Albany High School with monthly on-site visits to CNSE for hands-on laboratory activities.
Dr. Eva Joseph, Superintendent of the City School District of Albany, said, "The UAlbany NanoCollege is a one-of-a-kind educational facility right in our backyard. This great partnership provides our students hands-on exposure to technology that is changing our world, and is preparing them to take leading roles in tomorrow's high-tech workforce."
Dr. Alain E. Kaloyeros, Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of CNSE, said, "Working in collaboration with the City School District of Albany, our partners in the pioneering NanoHigh program, the UAlbany NanoCollege is pleased to be at the forefront of a new paradigm that gives students a critical competitive advantage as they pursue educational and career paths driven by nanotechnology. This unique effort is addressing the vital national need to get more children involved in math, science and technology, the fields that are creating exciting career opportunities, including a growing number in the Capital Region and New York State."
Amid rapid growth in the nanotechnology-driven economy of the Capital Region, Tech Valley and New York State, the National Science Foundation has projected a need for two million nanotech-savvy workers nationwide by 2014, to include researchers, scientists, engineers, technicians and others. The NanoEducation Summit is timely and essential to providing educators with critical insight into the science literacy necessary to develop students for the highly educated, skilled and trained workforce of the future.
This innovative educational forum will feature a keynote presentation by Dr. Kaloyeros; a featured presentation by Jerry Adomshick, senior vice president of the Tokyo Electron Ltd. ("TEL") Technology Center, America ("TTCA"); comments by Dr. Joseph; and, a presentation and discussion of the "NanoHigh" program by faculty members from both CSDA and CNSE.