"Nano Goes to Swiss Schools" (St.Galler Tagblatt)

"Nano" goes to Swiss Schools

To date, there has not been any teaching material for nanotechnologies appropriate for secondary school level. The „SimplyScience“ foundation and the Innovation Society have thus developed the nanotechnology experimental kit „SimplyNano 1“ illustrating the "dwarf"-technology. Teachers from all over the German speaking part of Switzerland have attended a first series of training courses with the "SimplyNano 1" school kit.

A secondary school teacher from Rhine Valley and a grammar school teacher from St.Gallen are scratching their head over how to best fit the LEGO-bricks together. This challenge is not taken up in a children’s playroom but in the classroom at St.Gallen Teacher Training College (PH). Teachers from the Swiss Cantons of Thurgau, St.Gallen, Appenzell and Zurich have taken their seat in order to get an introduction to the ABCs of nanotechnology.

„Most people“, says course leader Christoph Meili, CEO of The Innovation Society, St.Gallen, „only have diffuse ideas of nanotechnology“. In order to proof that, he tests the knowledge of the participating teachers. And they name a lot: they talk about the "technology of the dwarfs" because nanus is Latin for dwarf and this technology operates at the size of atoms and molecules. One teacher mentions the „asbetos of the 21st century“ thus mentioning the insecurity about the consequences of the 10-9 technology. Another one hopes that nano-treated textiles will prevent him from sweating.

Lack of Information

The lack of information is still remarkable, says Meili. Actually "nano" refers just to dimension – crucial for the technology however are characteristic effects which are harnessed in nanotechnology applications. Nanotechnology operates thereby in structures from 1 to 100 nanometers. By manipulating these structures certain effects are achieved. Sun screens for example, with 40 nanometers big particles: Titanium dioxide that becomes immediately transparent with the effect that it becomes obsolete to rub the lotion for minutes. Meili tries to explain the nano effects to secondary teachers with the help of one further example. Aluminium foil serves for wrapping bread or cake pieces. Milling-down this foil to nano size, it can be made into rocket fuel. „The reactivity of a substance strongly depends on the fragmentation of the material“, explains the course leader. An example that the pupils might like.

Technological Job Profiles

Such illustration is the goal of the nano experiment kit that is introduced this afternoon. On behalf of the „SimplyScience“ foundation, The Innovation Society, St.Gallen has produced this teaching tool. The mission of „SimplyScience“ that launched the pilot series of the first 200 kits is the promotion of talents in science and technology, explains Sabine Kastner. The SimplyScience foundation from Zürich aims to present job profiles in technical and natural sciences to students thus illustrating them on their internet platform. The career choice after all is the decisive question at that age. The web-platform also provides natural scientific experiments and teaching-materials for teachers. The "SimplyNano 1" kit comprises 8 simple experiments from the nano world. Presentation slides, experiment manuals for students and teaching notes as well as all necessary chemicals and materials are in the box. Thereby three topics are focussed: 1. nanodimesion, 2.nano surfaces and 3. the reactivity of nanoparticles. In order to imagine the small dimensions the above mentioned LEGO bricks have to be assembled. Precisely speaking, students assemble an Atomic Force Microscope, an AFM model of LEGO equipped with a laser beam. Thus the principle of the atomic force microscope scanning the surface can be playfully understood and experienced. During the course teachers scan paper models while in nanotechnology atoms are on the surface of the sample.

Useful Lotus Effect

In order to demonstrate the functioning of nano surfaces the nano experiment kit explains the lotus effect which is occuring in nature. On the leaves of the lotus plant dirt and water roll off. This effect is a biological self protection mechanism which can be applied in technical products. The engineered lotus effect is demonstrated by means of carbon black layer on glass and metal or on nano-impregnated wood. Experiments, inter alia with the solubility of common salt, are conducted in order to explain the reactivity. „About two or three students can work with one kit at the same time“, says Meili who wants to distribute the kit all over Switzerland. The knowledge of nanotechnology is elementary for kids because there is an ever-growing number of products that are associated with nano. And to date, there has not been any teaching material.

Promoting Nano

The Council of States from Innerrhoden, Ivo Bischofberger, has advocated for broadening the knowledge of nanotechnology. In June 2011 he has made an interpellation to the Swiss Government demanding the promotion of the formation in nanotechnology at professional and middle schools. The Swiss Federal Councellor Johann Schneider-Ammann agreed on the important role of nanotechnology education. However, now it is up to companies to perpetuate the education platform „Swiss Nano-Cube“ that has been initially supported by the Swiss state. But so far there has not been anything concrete.

Loosely translated into English.

Source: St.Galler Tagblatt, 20/03/2012

Author: Bruno Knellwolf, St.Galler Tagblatt (Translation: The Innovation Society)

Further infromation: info@innovationsgesellschaft.ch; www.innovationsociety.ch