As part of the morning session of the first-ever UMN NanoDay, the International Institute for Biosensing (IIB) and the Minnesota Nano Center (MNC) welcomed 60 sixth-grade students from Bloomington Public Schools for a day of hands-on nanotechnology activities at the MNC.
Students rotated through a series of interactive activity stations led by staff from the Minnesota Nano Center, the College of Science and Engineering Youth Programs, the Science Museum of Minnesota, and the Science and Engineering Student Board. The activities were designed to spark curiosity and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.
During their visit, students suited up in “bunny suits” to experience a mock “shift” inside the MNC cleanroom, explored photolithography by creating their own sunprint photo art, built doorbells using snap circuits, and met the Science Museum’s interactive robot, Andre 2.0, who guided them in making vibrant abstract digital drawings.
The morning was filled with curiosity, creativity, and discovery — offering students a glimpse into the fascinating world of nanotechnology and the possibilities it holds for their future. This event was a great success, and hopefully will be continued on annual basis.
