Nov 3 2008
A crowd consisting of hundreds of children, adults and families participated in Community Day today at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering ("CNSE") of the University at Albany, the first in a series of events that are part of CNSE's unprecedented community and educational outreach initiative known as NANOvember.
Community Day featured presentations, booths, interactive demonstrations and hands-on activities, as well as tours of the cutting-edge cleanroom facilities at CNSE's $4.5 billion Albany NanoTech Complex - the most advanced research enterprise in the academic world - all designed to showcase the exciting technological breakthroughs being enabled by nanotechnology and the global leadership of the UAlbany NanoCollege in the science described by the National Nanotechnology Initiative as "leading to the next Industrial Revolution."
NANOvember is part of "NEXSTEP," or "Nanotechnology Explorations for Science, Training and Education Promotion," a partnership between CNSE and KeyBank, spearheaded by CNSE's Nanoeconomics Constellation, featuring educational initiatives that promote greater understanding of the changing economic and business environment in the Capital Region and New York State being driven by nanotechnology.
"NANOvember is an exciting extension of the NEXSTEP initiative and its effort to help people understand the importance of nanotechnology and how and why nanotechnology is changing the Capital Region," said Jeffrey Stone, president, Capital Region, KeyBank N.A. "In the current economic landscape, this is a bright spot, as nanotech growth in our region, led by the UAlbany NanoCollege, will expand the tax base, attract more businesses and, most important, create more better-paying jobs."
"We are delighted to offer an inside look at both the UAlbany NanoCollege and the exciting world of nanotechnology through this exceptional collaboration with our forward-thinking partners at KeyBank," said Dr. Alain E. Kaloyeros, Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of CNSE. "Events such as Community Day, and initiatives like NANOvember, provide a unique opportunity to demonstrate the positive impact that nanotechnology is having on society, and to showcase the pioneering educational and technological capabilities that are positioning Albany and New York State as global leaders in the most important scientific field of the 21st century."
The first-ever celebration of NANOvember also includes the unveiling of an exhibit in Colonie Center that is believed to be the nation's first nanotechnology display in a shopping mall; hosting of a national conference on the convergence of nanobioscience and medicine; educational programs such as "NanoCareer Day" for students and "Nano 101" for teachers; a series of community lectures highlighting CNSE's pioneering education, cutting-edge research and significant economic impact; and, an open house for prospective graduate students.