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Education/Outreach



New Course


Center faculty (Buongiorno-Nardelli, Dougherty, Shultz, Tracy) designed and implemented a new course, Introduction to Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, and evaluation assessment (before/after) suggests that students gained considerable knowledge of magnetic and electronic spectroscopy, as well as the synthetic, analytical, and nanoscale chemistry relevant to spintronics. At the conclusion of the course participating students reported being interested or very interested in spintronics (84%); techniques in spintronics (100%); and applications of spintronics (84% very interested). A total of 14 graduate students completed the course.

NanoDays


Buongiorno-Nardelli discusses spintronics with high school students at NanoDays.

Buongiorno-Nardelli discusses spintronics with
high school students at NanoDays.

The CMS co-sponsored NanoDays at NCSU (2010 and 2011) and UNC-CH (2010) and offered talks, lab tours and demonstrations for over 2000 students, teachers, and parents from schools and communities from across North Carolina (NC) Educators from UNC and The NC Museum of Life and Sciences, Marbles Children’s Museum, and UNC-Greensboro/NC A&T School of NanoScale Science and Nanotechnology participated; the evaluations received from these individuals underscored the value of this learning experience, and demonstrated that significant new interests were kindled in the spintronics field.

Summer Undergraduate Researchers from Shaw University


Shultz group member Chris Tichnell discusses a synthesis with Shaw student Travis Robinson.

Shultz group member Chris Tichnell (left) discusses
a synthesis with Shaw student Travis Robinson.

Three students from Shaw University joined the CMS and contributed to Center research projects (in the Dougherty, Shultz, Tsui and You groups). Additionally, a female NCSU undergraduate (Shultz group) is also working on Phase I projects.

Shaw student Will Collins (left) discusses his summer research project.

Shaw student Will Collins (left) discusses
his summer research project.

School Presentations & Teacher Workshops


Jones brings spintronics to high school teachers.

Jones brings spintronics to high school teachers.

Jones gave a total of 5 presentations and workshops to teachers about nanotechnology and has served as a consultant for student nanotechnology presentations at Southeast Raleigh High School. Jones conducted 4 workshops for teachers about nanotechnology (including spintronics) and potential technologically important applications.

Kenan Fellowships


Jones and Tracy collaborated with Kenan Fellow Liz Woolard and conducted two workshops for teachers at the NC Science Teachers Conference. During these workshops, teachers (ca. 50) learned about advances in spintronic and nanoscale science and technology and effective strategies for teaching these concepts. Woolard developed a series of high school learning modules for teachers to use in spintronics and nanoscale science teaching activities. Woolard was jointly sponsored by the Kenan Institute and the CMS during summer (2010 and 2011) months.

Science Café and Museum Presentations


Periodic Tables, Durham's Science Cafe
Center faculty made multiple public presentations in the NC region that include: Periodic Tables (NC Museum of Life and Sciences; Shultz), UNC Science Expo (Chapel Hill; You).



High School students explore nano properties Thinking about new forms of computing
NanoDays Student Volunteers Exploring nano materials
NanoDays Tour Guides Lessons from nano undergraduates
Gail Jones points out nanostructures to students Lindsay Patterson shares nano materials with Family Science participants
Just how big is a nanometer? Students explore size and scale UNC NanoDays demonstrations

NanoDays 2011


Back for its sixth year, NanoDays 2011 was a huge success. NCSU and UNC-CH Researchers from the Center For Molecular Spintronics partnered to present advancements in research to 2,000 parents, teachers, and students. Spintronics faculty and students shared their cutting edge research to develop new and more efficient forms of computing.

Center graduate students presented posters and talked with middle school students about future careers in nano-chemistry. Daniel Dougherty and Jack Rowe sponsored demonstrations and lab tours so that students could learn more about the new tools that are used at the nanoscale. An evaluation study of visitors showed that participants found NanoDays to be highly interesting and noted that they wanted to learn even more about nanoscale science.








Elizabeth Woolard

Elizabeth Woolard

Teacher Summer Research


After a competitive application process, Elizabeth Woolard was selected to become a Kenan Fellow working with the Center for Molecular Spintronics. Ms. Woolard has spent two summers conducting research in the lab of Joe Tracy. The mission of the Kenan Fellows Program is to enable teachers to increase their students' knowledge of science and mathematics and to engage teachers, business leaders, and university faculty in collaborating to improve education. The program provides opportunities for leadership development as well as research experiences. Ms. Woolard continues to work with Spintronics faculty Joe Tracy and Gail Jones to create educational materials and investigations that teachers can use to teach their students about spintronics-rated research.




Graduate and Undergraduate Research


NCSU undergraduate students are engaging in cross-disciplinary research spanning all phases of research - from concept to discovery. Students are invited to participate in the Academic Year Research Experience (ARE) and the Summer Research Experience programs to do independent research with a faculty mentor.




NC Museum of Life and Science and the Center for Molecular Spintronics


Science educators at the NC Museum of Life and Science have joined the researchers in the Center to provide outreach to the public. Museum educators brought new exhibits for the public to share with visitors to NanoDays.