Sixth-graders properly suit up while learning about the MN Nano Center clean room, University of Minnesota Photo credit: Shelly Gustafson
On October 9, a date cleverly chosen to honor the nanometer’s 10⁻⁹ scale, the University of Minnesota (UMN) buzzed with an amount of excitement that felt a billion times larger during its first annual Nano Day celebration. Hosted by the Minnesota Nano Center (MNC) and the International Institute for Biosensing (IIB), the event successfully brought together students, educators, researchers, and industry leaders under the unifying theme of "Small Science, Big Impact." The day provided a vibrant and engaging platform to showcase how nanoscale research is driving significant advances in critical areas such as technology, health, and energy, and fostering a spirit of collaboration and discovery.
The day's events kicked off with an inspiring morning session dedicated to fostering the next generation of scientists. The UMN team welcomed more than sixty enthusiastic sixth-graders from Bloomington Public Schools for an exclusive look into the world of nanotechnology. Students rotated through hands-on activity stations led by MNC staff, College of Science and Engineering Youth Programs, the Science Museum of Minnesota, and the Science and Engineering Student Board. As part of the experience, the students engaged in several hands-on activities, including suiting up in bunny suits for a “shift” in the MNC’s clean room, modeling photolithography and creating their own “sunprint photoart”, creating snap circuits, and were even treated to a visit from the Science Museum's charismatic robot, Andre 2.0, making for an unforgettable learning experience.
The celebration continued into the late afternoon with an open house at the Physics and Nanotechnology Building. The evening event attracted UMN leaders, including Shashank Priya, vice president for research and innovation, along with faculty and industry partners. Attendees toured the MNC’s state-of-the-art facilities, engaged with graduate students who had been collaborating with IIB and MNC during a lively poster session, and networked with peers. This segment of the day effectively highlighted the IIB and MNC's cutting-edge capabilities, importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the critical workforce development opportunities it provides for the region.
“Nano Day reflects the power of collaboration—bringing together researchers, students, and industry partners to turn ideas into innovations, " said Patricia Khashayar, IIB director. “Through facilitating such collaborations, we’re laying the foundation for breakthroughs that will shape the future of biosensing, nanotechnology, and beyond.”