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Find the Nano in Your Life: Using Interactive Museum Demonstrations to Engage a Public Audience in Nanotechnology Research and Policy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Jayatri Das
Affiliation:
[email protected], The Franklin Institute, Exhibit Development Dept., 222 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, PA, 19103, United States
Allison B. Francies
Affiliation:
[email protected], The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, PA, 19103, United States
Ronald D. Redwing
Affiliation:
[email protected], Pennsylvania State University, Center for Nanoscale Science, Dept. of Physics, University Park, PA, 16802, United States
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Abstract

To many Americans, nanotechnology remains a science of the future; most are unaware that nanoscale science is already being incorporated into products they use in their everyday lives. Informal learning environments are an ideal venue in which to not only educate the public about current applications of nanotechnology but also engage them in a discussion of its impacts. Developed through a partnership between two NSF-funded Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers at Penn State and Cornell Universities and The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, the “Small Wonders: Find the Nano in Your Life” program has been distributed to 20 science and children's museums around the United States. This cart-based program includes interactive demonstrations of commercially available products that use nanoscale technology, including sunblock, nanosilver food containers, and nanoiron for environmental remediation. Macroscale models enable visitors to understand the underlying science, while real products allow visitors to explore the hope, hype, and reality of each. Here, we discuss the educational goals of the program, our approach to presenting questions of both science and policy, and methods and results of visitor evaluation. This third collaborative project continues to build on a model of program development and distribution that has been highly successful at reaching a broad audience.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2008

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