What is nanoscience? Is it different from nanotechnology? Is it chemistry? Many chemists do think that nanoscience is another word for molecular chemistry. However, there are many who would argue with that definition (including the physicists, mechanical engineers, chemical engineers, bioengineers working in nanotechnology). Is molecular physics also nanoscience?

Here is the interesting issue about nanoscience and nanotechnology. Kids tend to think it is cool. Or at least they don't associate it with words like chemistry and physics - words that they tend to have very negative feelings about. Scientists and chemists in particular are often the bad guys in movies (e.g. Batman).

What difference does the name make? Do kids seek out nano-related activities over more traditionally named activities? Or is this just rebranding of the same old science or is it something new?

Can we make nanoscience something different? I would love to see courses in the physical sciences enriched with with real and currently developing applications that can positively impact human and environmental health. I would love to see science course taught using inquiry based pedagogy.

If anyone has examples of courses at either the k-12 or college level that really break through some of the real barriers to science education = Motivation, Engagement, Applications and Resources, please let me know.
Thank you

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Comment by tzenlong on February 27, 2009 at 8:12am
the comments you made are certainly of relevance, especially in present times. it would be certainly great to see more gear, or equipment where "old world" engineers and scientists can try their hands on. i'm not really involved in any research work, but if some practical theories could be developed, yes, sort of like what feynman diagrams did for quantume electrodynamics, or sorry "quantum physics", it would be great, yes not really gross simplifications but "new sciences" being developed, that could do away with the complex underlying quantum relativistic calculations.

i seem to have the strange feeling that in some more advanced countries, kids are already playing with simple lab kits, that demonstrate the underlying concepts, but the adults see an entiredly different picture. that of relativistic equations, and chemical formulations - which are the preservce of specialists in the field. certainly, it would be great to keep the "layman" or "oldster" engineer type people like myself, up to speed. but perhaps in current times, it is still too early to comment, and might involve a lot of collaborative efforts and standrdisation.

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