Graduation ceremonies were held today for 19 Albany High School ("AHS") students who successfully completed the groundbreaking "NanoHigh" program, developed jointly by the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering ("CNSE") of the University at Albany and the City School District of Albany ("CSDA") in what is believed to be the first initiative of its kind at a public school anywhere in the country.
NanoHigh includes courses taught both at AHS and through hands-on, interactive laboratory activities at CNSE's world-class Albany NanoTech Complex. Students engage in a host of cutting-edge facets of nanotechnology, which involves the manipulation of matter at the molecular level and offers new opportunities to enable important advances in electronics, health care, clean energy and environmental sciences, among a variety of critical fields.
This year, AHS students had unique opportunities to explore integrated circuit technologies through nanoscale patterning and fabrication; nanobiomedical applications, including innovations in nanomedicine and forensic DNA fingerprinting; clean energy technologies, such as solar cells and ultracapacitors for energy storage; and nanoeconomics, among others.
Since its inception three years ago, nearly 60 AHS students have received certificates for successful completion of the program, which was designed by CNSE and CSDA to enhance students' opportunities to take advantage of a growing number of nanotechnology-related careers being developed in the Capital Region and across New York State.
"I am delighted to congratulate the Albany High School students for their enthusiastic commitment to, and successful completion of, the NanoHigh program," said Dr. Alain E. Kaloyeros, Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of CNSE. "This innovative partnership between the UAlbany NanoCollege and City School District of Albany is giving students a unique window into exciting nanotechnology-enabled careers, while directly addressing the critical national need to engage students in math, science and engineering."
"With each passing year we are recognizing more and more just how integral nanoscience and nanotechnology are to our future - worldwide and right here in the Capital Region thanks to the leadership of Dr. Kaloyeros and the University at Albany NanoCollege," said City School District of Albany Superintendent Raymond Colucciello, Ed.D. "Albany High School students are so fortunate to have the opportunity to get an inside view and hands-on experience with this cutting-edge science and technology that continues to transform the way we live and work."
According to projections by the National Science Foundation ("NSF"), the U.S. will need over 2 million nanotechnology-savvy workers by 2014, to include researchers, scientists, engineers, technicians and others.
The mission of the City School District of Albany is to educate and nurture all students to be responsible citizens, critical thinkers and lifelong learners to successfully compete in the global community by providing an academically rigorous and safe environment in partnership with parents, students and the community. The district serves approximately 8,400 students in 16 elementary, middle and high schools. In addition to neighborhood schools, the district includes several magnet schools and programs, as well as other innovative academic opportunities for students.
The UAlbany CNSE is the first college in the world dedicated to education, research, development, and deployment in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience, nanoengineering, nanobioscience, and nanoeconomics. CNSE's Albany NanoTech Complex is the most advanced research enterprise of its kind at any university in the world. With over $5.5 billion in high-tech investments, the 800,000-square-foot complex attracts corporate partners from around the world and offers students a one-of-a-kind academic experience. The UAlbany NanoCollege houses the only fully-integrated, 300mm wafer, computer chip pilot prototyping and demonstration line within 80,000 square feet of Class 1 capable cleanrooms. More than 2,500 scientists, researchers, engineers, students, and faculty work on site at CNSE's Albany NanoTech, from companies including IBM, AMD, GlobalFoundries, SEMATECH, Toshiba, Applied Materials, Tokyo Electron, ASML, Novellus Systems, Vistec Lithography and Atotech. For more information, visit http://www.cnse.albany.edu
