The College of Nanoscale
Science and Engineering ("CNSE") of the University at Albany is
featured as part of the Albany Institute of History + Art's first-ever Hudson
River Panorama: 400 Years of History, Art, and Culture exhibition. Highlighting
the Hudson River and its valley, the exhibit coincides with the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain
Quadricentennial that New York and surrounding states are commemorating throughout
the year.
The nanotechnology section of the exhibition incorporates nanotechnology-enabled
consumer products, including golf balls and clothing, with high-tech items from
CNSE's world-class Albany NanoTech Complex, such as a silicon wafer and biochip.
The display demonstrates the link between nanoscale technologies and real-world
applications, as well as the growing global leadership of CNSE in nanotechnology
education, research, development and deployment.
The museum spent more than three years researching and developing this exhibition
that commemorates Henry Hudson's 1609 exploration of the Hudson River. The exhibition
is made up of five major themes relating to agricultural, industrial and cultural
influences along the river, including the theme of trade, commerce and industry.
This theme focuses on industries along the waterway that have had a large impact
on the development of regional and national economies. Nanotechnology is highlighted
as a present day industry for its significant impact in enabling exciting technological
breakthroughs, as well as the regional and global leadership of CNSE in the
science described by the National Nanotechnology Initiative as "leading
to the next Industrial Revolution."
"In addition to industries of historical importance, we were interested
in featuring industries that are currently defining our region, specifically
nanotechnology," says Dr. Douglas McCombs, Curator of History at the Albany
Institute of History & Art. "Because of CNSE, its educational prominence,
cutting-edge research and development and partnerships with industry leaders,
nanotechnology is shaping our region and the world around us."
The Hudson River Panorama: 400 Years of History, Art, and Culture exhibition
will be on display at the Albany Institute of History & Art through the
beginning of next year.