The NanoBusiness Alliance and The National Science and Technology Education Partnership (NSTEP) today announced they have formed a strategic relationship to advance nanotechnology youth education and expansion of the science and technology workforce pipeline.
"The National Nanotechnology Initiative has identified grades K-12 as key to developing tomorrow's nanotech workforce," said Kathy Warye, president of NSTEP. "In creating this partnership with the NanoBusiness Alliance, we will be able to help support NNI's goals in primary and secondary education, and to expand nanotech's exposure in America's science classrooms."
The partnership will address the development and execution of programs to promote, educate and excite young people about the amazing world of nanotechnology. Program participants will include K-12 students, college students, educators and volunteer mentors from nanotechnology companies. Building awareness of nanotechnology among science and technology teachers and their students is the first step in ensuring an adequate supply of future researchers and developers for this promising field. By exposing students to exiting new fields such as nanotechnology, NSTEP and the NanoBusiness Alliance are connecting the classroom to the real world of science and technology and inspiring young people to pursue related careers.
"To this point, nanoscience has largely been the purview of universities, corporate R&D departments and government laboratories," said Nathan Tinker, executive vice president of the NanoBusiness Alliance. "This relationship offers the chance to bring nanotech into the high schools of America. NSTEP has a long history of deeply supporting science education and we are proud to join them in this partnership."
NSTEP is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to developing tomorrow's technology leaders. Our mission is to provide young people with opportunities which enhance their knowledge, skills, and technical expertise, encouraging students to pursue technology related careers while increasing the pipeline of science and technology workforce talent. Through partnerships with leading corporations, universities and non-profit organizations, NSTEP offers programs that help students develop 21st century workforce skills vital to helping young people prepare for careers in our increasingly technological world. NSTEP's programs provide participants with experiences that help them make the connection between academic sciences and their real world application while offering businesses a means of developing their future workforce in communities where they live and work.
The NanoBusiness Alliance, headquartered in New York City, is the first industry association dedicated to advancing the emerging business of nanotechnology and microsystems. The NanoBusiness Alliance is creating a collective voice for the emerging small tech industry and developing a range of initiatives to support and strengthen the nanotechnology business community. The Alliance focuses on research and education, public policy and awareness, public relations and promotion, providing forums, panels and industry support.