Join us for Scientist in the Spotlight—Mechanical engineering and nano technology

Seeing nano

Come by and play in a simplified version of a nano lab! Nano means one billionth of something so a nanometer is one billionth of a meter. To help put that in perspective, a sheet of newspaper is about 100,000 nanometers thick. So, how do you see something that’s smaller than a particle of light? If you stop by, Noah Orfield, with the Lab's Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, will help give you a sense of how such tiny structures can be observed in the lab and what we’re learning about their properties. You’ve just gotta “see” this. Fun for all ages.

Mechanical engineering

During that same time you can visit with Isaac Salazar, a mechanical engineer, who will be here to talk about how experimental variables can be used to improve science. If that’s not enough, you can also make and fly a paper helicopter. (Yes, if you make one you can take it home with you to continue the fun and learning.)