Road To Nano Technology Education In Engineering Technology: An Area Of Interdisciplinary Studies

Abstract

Nano-scale science and engineering most likely will produce the strategic technology breakthroughs of tomorrow," says David Swain, Senior Vice President of Engineering and Technology at Boeing. The development of micro-scale engineering in the area of electronics and computer technology demonstrates low cost and high efficiency technology advancements in miniaturization. These efforts have led to the emergence of nanotechnology dealing with a wide range of engineering applications at the nano scale. Nanotechnology has future impacts in the application markets such as medicine, healthcare, biotechnology, communications, and electronics. Due to rapid development and broad impact of nanotechnology, education and training of a new generation of workforce skilled in this field will play an important role in the development and applications of nanotechnology. It is a challenge for educators, especially for engineering technology educators, to provide an appropriate curriculum and effective learning environment including state-of-the-art laboratories for students who want to enter the nano field after their graduation. This paper will discuss the objectives of nano-technology education in the field of engineering technology at the baccalaureate level and point to the key issue of the interdisciplinary nature of nanotechnology. An analysis is made of the demands for laboratory facilities, faculty, and functions of other service departments to deliver an engineering technology curriculum in nanotechnology. Guidelines are provided for an innovative curriculum that draws upon collaborations among faculty, departments, and laboratories. The suggested guidelines can be modified to address the evolving needs of nano-technology education without loss of focus on engineering technology education.