Tag Archives: books for kids

Nanotechnology, kids, and internships

Dr. Moon Kim, a materials scientist, decided to write a book for children about nanotechnology. Originally written in Korean and now being translated into English,  the book was selected  in December 2010  by the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity as one of the top science books of the year. From the March 7, 2011 news item on physorg.com,

Written in Korean and with the English translation just recently completed, “A Day With Nano” takes a wide-ranging view of nanotechnology. He wrote it in collaboration with his wife, Sun Song, and it touches not only on Kim’s own research but also on applications such as robotic surgery, micro-needles for painless injections, smart windows that adapt to outdoor conditions, nano cosmetics and self-healing paint that prevents the development of rust.

“I actually learned quite a bit by doing research for this, and it’s given me new ideas about additional laboratory research to pursue,” said Kim, a professor of materials science and engineering in the University’s Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science.

And although the primary audience comprises elementary- and secondary-school students, he says he sees a need to spread the word further as well.

“The reason we do so much of our research is to make everyone’s lives better, and we need public support for that,” he said. “As a professor, education is a big part of my job, and that includes the general public, so the more that both kids and their parents understand and support what we do, the better it is for everyone.”

Dr. Kim has also instituted an internship program. The first session in January 2011 had three students and a teacher from South Korea visit him at his laboratory at the University of Texas.

Coverage of the Nano Intern Program appeared in the Donga Daily, one of South Korea's leading newspapers. (Copied from Univ. of Texas News Center website)

There’s more about Dr. Kim’s projects here.