Nanotechnology Education

Opening Statement By Chairman Brian Baird

Good afternoon. I'd like to welcome everybody to today's hearing on nanotechnology education and thank our witnesses for being here.

Developments in the field of nanotechnology are incredibly exciting. Science now has the ability to not just see or perceive matter at its smallest scale, but also to manipulate it and create new materials. I am certain that the flood of discoveries and applications just around the corner will touch every aspect of our lives, including medicine and computing. Indeed, some of these applications, like enhanced textiles, have already arrived - generating billions of dollars in economic impact.

The question we are concerned with today is how we will build the workforce to propel discovery and keep America at the forefront of nanotechnology. This question once again brings us to science education, which has been an issue of great concern for this Committee.

At present, the Federal Government invests one and a half billion dollars in nanotechnology research and development through the National Nanotechnology Initiative. Certainly, this investment is crucial. However, if we ignore the fact that there simply are not enough American students prepared to carry out this research and development, we could find much of that investment wasted as other countries take the lead in nanotechnology.

We face two very steep challenges in science education: one is to raise students' interest in math and science; the other is to raise their competency.

The Nanotechnology in the Schools Act, which I will let my friend from Oregon, Ms. Hooley, explain in detail, offers an intriguing way to attack both of these challenges.

I am very interested in hearing from our witnesses today about how putting incredibly advanced technology in the hands of students can capture their attention and inspire them to pursue math and science career paths, especially in the area of nanotechnology.

I am also very interested to hear today about the investment the Federal government is already making in nanotechnology education, both for students and the general public, and the impact these investments are having.

And I will now yield to my good friend from Oregon, Congresswoman Hooley.

Opening Statement By Vice-Chair Darlene Hooley

First, I would like to thank you for holding this hearing today and for your work on this issue.

Everyone in this room today can agree that the emerging field of nanotechnology holds tremendous potential, potential that is becoming more and more evident with every new breakthrough. Research in this area has already led to new cancer treatments, more powerful computers, and energy conversion and storage breakthroughs.

Nanotechnology will revolutionize manufacturing, computing, energy, healthcare, national defense, and many other sectors by improving the way things are designed and made.

It is clearly necessary for the United States to remain at the forefront of research and development in the field of nanotechnology. Already we are facing challenges to our leadership by China, Japan, the European Union, India and others.

For America to maintain and expand its leadership, we must have a full pipeline of scientists and engineers who are capable of conducting nanotechnology research and development. And we must have a scientifically literate public, able to exploit and understand this new science.

The purpose of my legislation, the Nanotechnology in the Schools Act, is to expose American students to the high-tech realm of nanotechnology, encouraging in them a greater interest in this new field.

It authorizes $15 million for the National Science Foundation to create a grant program making it possible for high schools, two-year colleges, undergraduate serving institutions, and informal science education centers to purchase nanotechnology equipment for educational purposes.

These grants can be used to purchase instrumentation and materials to teach nanotechnology principles to students and the public. In addition, the funds can be used for training teachers and professors to use these tools in the classroom and the laboratory.

Thank you to all of our witnesses for agreeing to testify today and for providing your valuable insight into the best way that we introduce nanotechnology to America’s greatest asset, its students.

Witnesses

Panel

1 - Mr. David Ucko
Deputy Division Director Education and Human Resources Division on Research and Learning National Science Foundation Education and Human Resources Division on R
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2 - Dr. Navida Ganguly
Head of the Science Department Oak Ridge High School Oak Ridge High School
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3 - Dr. Hamish Fraser
Ohio Regents Eminent Scholar and Professor Department of Materials Science Engineering The Ohio State University Department of Materials Science Engineering The
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4 - Dr. Ray Vandiver
Vice President, New Project Development Oregon Museum of Science and Industry Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
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5 - Mr. Sean Murdock
Executive Director NanoBusiness Alliance NanoBusiness Alliance
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6 - Dr. Gerald Wheeler
Executive Director National Science Teachers Association National Science Teachers Association
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