Lots of Penn students dream of big futures, but members of the Penn Nanotech Society are dreaming on a much, much smaller scale.
Yesterday, the group joined with the Penn Nano/Bio Interface Center to host "Nano Day," a series of presentations designed to dispel myths and increase awareness of tiny technology.
Nanotechnology is not a distinct field of science.
Rather, the term applies to any project in a broader field, such as biology or physics, that deals with materials smaller than 100 nanometers, Nanotech Society co-President Alex Mittal said.
"Many students don't realize just how wide the scope of nanotech is," Mittal said. "People think of it as one small subset of the scientific world, when it's really something that can be applied to every field out there."
The two host groups hoped that the event would generate excitement about the expanding industry, according to NBIC program director Jim McGonigle.
"So many departments can take this technology and run with it. We're trying to get interested parties to take notice and further the interdisciplinary research effort," McGonigle said.
In addition to researchers, employers have also taken notice of the expanding field.
Six professionals working in nanotech-related fields spoke on an industry discussion panel. They each attested to the fast pace at which career opportunities are being created.
"The U.S. government is investing $3.5 billion to bring in smart people to get these products from research to the marketplace," said U.S. Patent and Trademark Office employee Bruce Kisliuk, who spoke on the panel. "There's so much room to grow."
The government is not alone in its eagerness to fund promising projects, according to Adam Kalish, a partner at Lux Capital.
"Scientists are excited. Customers are excited. Everyone is anxious to bring on the revolution," Kalish said.
Not all Nano Day presenters had established careers.
High school students were also given the opportunity to share their research in a project exhibition in Levine Hall.
McGonigle said that catching the interest of younger students helps secure future developments.
"What [the kids] have done today is help us reach out to a wider audience," he said. "In turn, we hope we've been able to connect [them] to the kind of research that goes on here."
High school sophomore Janet Song, whose project placed first among students in her grade level, agreed that the event was helpful in spreading the word about the possibilities of nanotech.
"It's an area I'd like to look into in the future," Song said.
