ENMU Hosting K-12 Teachers' Workshop Funded by Science Foundation

Date: 9/26/2003
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 505.562.2253

PORTALES--Eastern New Mexico University is hosting a K-12 teachers' workshop
on Oct 2-4 in the Science Building. The workshop is being funded by a
National Science Foundation (NSF) grant under the EPSCoR program
(Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research).

Teachers can still apply to participate by contacting Dr. Robert Long,
assistant professor of chemistry at ENMU, at 505-562-2496
(robert.long@enmu.edu <mailto:robert.long@enmu.edu> ).

The New Mexico EPSCoR nanotechnology focus group is putting on two of these
workshops each year over a three-year period at various universities within
the state.

Vanetta Perry of New Mexico Tech is in charge of the "outreach" portion of
the nanotechnology program and is responsible for setting up the workshops.
Dr. is the local coordinator for the event and will be giving an
introductory lecture on nanoscience

The workshop will consist of lectures and a demonstration, then the
teachers will be working on hands-on lab experiments--which they should be
able to repeat in their own schools.

Dr. Long says, "Materials science and nanotechnology are two subjects that
are becoming increasingly important in current research, and
are increasingly making contributions to the everyday materials
found in our lives. Examples of the contributions that these
areas of science have already made can be found in new materials
used to construct automobiles, computers, and many other consumer
products.

"The promise of materials science and nanotechnology are improved
materials that will make possible advances such as alternative
energy processes, including fuel cells and efficient solar cells, stronger
/lighter/corrosion-resistant materials for construction, improved
medicines, and new methods of diagnosing and fighting diseases, etc.

"It is important that we make the public aware of what is going on
in these areas, not only so they know how these sciences are
contributing to our lives, but also so they can understand some of
the ethical issues involved in these new technologies. The best way
to do that is by educating the educators of future citizens in our
society.

"This is what the New Mexico EPSCoR nanotechnology program is trying
to do."

For more information, call Dr. Long at 505-562-2496 (robert.long@enmu.edu
<mailto:robert.long@enmu.edu> ).