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.