From the Director

With the arrival of summer, I want to take this opportunity to highlight the Molecular Foundry’s Education and Outreach Program. Led by Dr. Aditi Risbud, this program is designed to reach undergraduate students, high school students and teachers, the general public and potential users.

Each summer the Foundry hosts about a dozen Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) students for a ten-week program of hands-on research. We also provide learning experiences for high school students participating in the Lawrence Hall of Science’s NanoCamp. Our goal is to help students discover the same excitement about nanoscience that inspired our staff and users to work in this field and learn how to perform research in a safe manner. In addition, we hope those who do decide to pursue nanoscience will appreciate the value of the Foundry, become users in their own right and act as ambassadors for the Foundry.

The Foundry is also involved in local and national outreach programs for the general public. Recently, four of our researchers and one of our users engaged the community in a well-received evening of nanoscience through Berkeley Lab’s Science at the Theater series. The house was packed and highly engaged. Through this suite of outreach activities, the Molecular Foundry is striving to promote an appreciation for the positive impact nanotechnology can have on our lives.

 

Best,

Jim DeYoreo
Interim Director, Molecular Foundry