Nanotechnology and Alternative Energy Forum

Climate change concerns, rising energy costs, and dwindling natural resources are causing people everywhere to take a closer look at the relationship between human activity and our environment. The emerging field of nanotechnology presents great promise to address these issues, but it carries a great deal of uncertainty — and perhaps its own environmental risks.

In this forum, participants become the decision makers, weighing the possible environmental benefits of nanotechnology against its potential pitfalls. Should the bulk of research funding be dedicated to the implementation of existing technologies and to conservation, or should more effort be dedicated to designing new nanotechnologies that might be of greater long-term impact?

April 3, 2008 7-9pm, doors open at 6:30

pre-registration required, click here to register

Daily Nanoscience Programs

3/29 - Exploring Measurement: Are you ready for the nanometer challenge? Attempt to cut a piece of paper that is just one nanometer long and learn how small is really small.

4/1 - Exploring Liquid Crystals: Nanotechnology is all around us. One application is liquid crystal nanosensors which can be found in cell phones and computer screens. Make your own liquid crystal sensor and learn how it works.

4/2 - Exploring Solutions: You can’t see nanoparticles, but can you smell them? Find out which of your senses is best at detecting nanoparticles in a mouthwash challenge!

4/3 - Exploring Reactions: Things act differently when they are tiny. Conduct an experiment to see how chemical reactions are affected by the size of the reactants.

4/4 - Exploring Ferrofluid: You’ve played with magnets before, but what about nanosized magnets? Come discover what makes them different.

4/5 - Exploring Forces: Gravity keeps us on the ground but wouldn’t affect us if we were nanosized. Do an experiment on water to see how life in a nanoworld would change the forces around you.

Other NanoDays Events in the Triangle

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center

Join MPSC and MLS staff and UNC researchers on Saturday, March 29, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. as we Zoom In on the “small world” of scientific discovery at the nanoscale. What is a nano? How do scientists explore the tiniest objects? Find out at MPSC! Measure yourself in nanometers, experiment with magnification and participate in activities about nanoscience.

North Carolina State University

Join NC State faculty and MLS staff for NanoDays 2008 at NC State University on April 4 from 2pm – 6pm. NanoDays at NCSU is a state-wide event designed to open the world of nanoscale science and nanotechnology to citizens, teachers, and students. During NanoDays 2007, over 2,000 middle and high school students visited the NCSU campuses and toured laboratories, met scientists and engineers, and conducted investigations like making "nano" ice cream.