'NanoDay in Buffalo' introduces 450 students to opportunities in nanotechnology

(Nanowerk News) Inspired by Governor Andrew Cuomo’s strategic vision to grow New York State’s high-tech ecosystem and the critical education-to-career pipeline for students, the SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) brought its popular “NanoCareer Day” to hundreds of ninth grade students in Buffalo on Thursday, April 10.
“The NanoCareer Day event is a tremendous opportunity to inspire students in Buffalo to learn more about the fascinating power and potential of nanotechnology, and exemplifies Governor Andrew Cuomo’s commitment to expand career and educational opportunities for all New York State residents,” said Dr. Alain Kaloyeros, CEO of the SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering. “Outreach activities like these give our young innovators a better understanding of the Governor’s high tech initiatives in Buffalo, and what they mean for their future. SUNY CNSE is proud to partner with Buffalo Public Schools, Mayor Byron Brown, and SUNY Board of Trustees member Mrs. Eunice Lewin, to provide today’s students with the tools necessary to continue New York’s momentum tomorrow.”
“SUNY is proud to be the global leader in nanotechnology education and innovation,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. “Through the leadership of the Governor and the Buffalo Billion, the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering is helping to bring new high tech sectors to Western New York. Today’s event provided high school students with valuable exposure to emerging industry and nano-based career paths they can pursue right here in Buffalo and across New York’s high tech corridor. Thank you to the schools, presenters, and experts who participated and contributed to the success of this impressive event.”
NanoCareer Day, held at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI), in Buffalo, New York, brought an unforgettable nanotechnology-based experience to 450 ninth grade students. The students obtained an up-close look at the 21st Century science that is driving technological progress by taking part in a number of engaging presentations, nano-enabled demonstrations, and hands-on activities. Students also learned about the cutting-edge initiatives that are leading to a growing number of nanotechnology-based careers at New York’s top global corporations and at the CNSE-led biomedical and clean energy facilities that are currently being developed in Buffalo. Mayor Byron Brown proclaimed Thursday, April 10, 2014, “NanoDay in Buffalo.”

“Buffalo Science Week and Nano Day is an unprecedented collaboration between SUNY and Buffalo City Schools to expose high schoolers to the STEM disciplines,” said SUNY Board of Trustees member Mrs. Eunice Lewin. “As Buffalo continues to transform and prepares to take center stage in the nano revolution, today’s presentations and hands-on experiences will help our next generation understand, prepare, and embrace the opportunities of tomorrow. Many thanks to Dr. Kaloyeros and his team from CNSE for bringing this truly exciting event to Western New York, to Chancellor Zimpher for her vision, and to Mayor Byron Brown and Superintendent Pamela Brown for their leadership and support.”

Students were welcomed by a number of local and state leaders before being introduced to intriguing nanotechnology-related concepts during a presentation by CNSE Associate Professor of Nanoengineering Dr. F. (Shadi) Shahedipour-Sandvik and CNSE Assistant VP for NanoHealth Initiatives and Assistant Professor of Nanobioscience Dr. Sara Brenner. Additionally, the students learned about the ideas underpinning the fabrication of computer chips from an engaging demonstration by CNSE Equipment Evaluation and Support Specialist Stephen Stewart.

Students who attended the Buffalo NanoCareer Day also participated in hands-on, nanotechnology-enabled activities led by CNSE faculty, staff members, and students, including the chance to make non-Newtonian fluids, experiment with ferrofluids, explore computer hard drives, and investigate polymers, among other activities.
The students also learned about a growing number of opportunities in Buffalo, including those stemming from the development of the Buffalo High-Tech Manufacturing Innovation Hub at RiverBend and the Buffalo Medical Innovation and Commercialization Hub on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, two initiatives announced by Governor Cuomo which will produce more than $1.5 billion in private investments and hundreds of good paying jobs in the Buffalo area.
More specifically, the Buffalo Medical Innovation and Commercialization Hub is a partnership between CNSE, AMRI, and the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus that will enable a state-of-the-art, shared-user facility for research, development, and testing for drug screening, pharmaceutical development, technology optimization, business attraction, workforce training, and bioinformatics. The Buffalo High-Tech Manufacturing Innovation Hub at RiverBend will attract and house top-tier clean energy companies and enable advanced manufacturing at what will become a state-of-the art, multibillion-dollar high-tech campus. There, New York State will construct 275,000 square feet of facilities to be utilized by two California-based companies: Soraa, a manufacturer of the most efficient LED lighting on the market, will relocate its corporate R&D and manufacturing operations, invest $750 million, and create 375 jobs; and Silevo, a developer and manufacturer of silicon solar cells and modules, will invest $750 million and create at least 475 jobs at its sole North American production facility.
Source: CNSE