Irish nanoscience goes to school

The ‘Nano in My Life’ educational package for students in the senior or transitional year (TY) was launched today, Nov. 17, 2011, by Trinity College Dublin’s CRANN ( Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices). From the Nov. 17, 2011 news  item on Nanowerk,

The ‘Nano in My Life’ package, for the first time, will bring nanoscience – an area of research at which Ireland excels and which is a key enabler for innovation and economic growth – to the Irish classroom. It will encourage students to relate science subjects to innovative careers, with exciting and challenging applications. There are seven modules, each using a range of teaching and learning approaches, including video captured at CRANN, designed to engage students and encourage active learning.

Approximately 10% of Irish exports (€15 billion) are enabled by nanotechnology with tens of thousands of jobs in the ICT [Information and Communication Technology] and medical devices sectors dependent upon this research. Ireland is ranked 6th in the world for nanoscience research and 8th for materials science research (a branch of nanoscience), with CRANN enabling the majority of this research. Earlier in the week, Prof Jonathan Coleman, Principal Investigator at CRANN and Trinity College Dublin’s School of Physics was announced as the ‘Science Foundation Ireland Researcher of the Year’ for 2011.

Commenting on the launch, Mary Colclough, CRANN’s Communications and Outreach Manager said, “There is a real need to introduce secondary school students to cutting-edge nanoscience research which is driving innovation, providing jobs for highly skilled graduates and is now forming an important part of studying science at third level. CRANN is at the cutting edge of nanoscience research, which has the potential to revolutionise a number of industries, so we feel it is important to open students’ eyes to the opportunities that will be available in the future and hopefully inspire the next Steve Jobs or Mark Zuckerberg.”

Teachers are being encouraged to apply for a package by contacting  nanoinmylife@tcd.ie. BTW, I was not aware of highly ranked Irish nanoscience research has become. Bravo!

There is also a Trinity College Dublin (TCD) YouTube channel which features a number Nano in My Life videos including this one,

I wonder when we’re going to see similar science education initiatives in Canada.

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