Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: "Dakota County Technical College to Serve as Inaugural Pilot of NanoProfessor NanoScience Education Program"

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College Provides Cutting-Edge Nanotech Education and Training to Students in Meeting the Shifting Needs of the American Workforce

Dakota County Technical College to Serve as Inaugural Pilot of NanoProfessor NanoScience Education Program

Skokie, IL | Posted on November 16th, 2009

NanoProfessor, a division of NanoInk, Inc.® focused on nanotechnology education, announced today that Dakota County Technical College (DCTC), in Rosemount, Minn., will serve as the inaugural pilot site of the NanoProfessor NanoScience Education Program.

The NanoProfessor Program combines NanoInk's state-of-the-art NLP 2000 Desktop Nanofabrication System with a student-friendly AFM, a fluorescence microscope well-suited for the educational environment, and a timely curriculum written by nanotechnology experts covering the areas of Nanotechnology Basics, NanoPhysics, NanoChemistry, and NanoBiology. NanoProfessor arms educators with a comprehensive program that can be implemented immediately in community colleges, technical schools, high schools, and universities to give students an edge to compete for high-tech jobs in a global environment.

By implementing the NanoProfessor Program in the 2010 academic year, DCTC has taken an important step in offering students an unparalleled education in nanoscience that will provide them with the knowledge and skills necessary to compete for the jobs of the future.

"Our mission at Dakota County Technical College is to provide our students with education and training that prepares them to compete in the rapidly changing marketplace," said Ronald E. Thomas, president of Dakota County Technical College, a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. "We recognize the importance of nanoscience education, its many applications, and the advantage that the NanoProfessor Program will provide our students in preparation for future jobs in all areas of nanoscience."

"Students enrolled in our nanotechnology program at DCTC will benefit from the NanoProfessor's curriculum, which is focused on concrete applications of nanotechnology. The suite of equipment also allows the concepts of nanotechnology such as molecular interactions to be explained and studied through hands-on experience rather than just charts and simulations," said Deb Newberry, director of the nanoscience technology program at DCTC. "The addition of the NanoProfessor Program will help us provide our students with an unmatched education, giving them the skills and knowledge to find employment in companies that are applying nanotechnology to product development, testing, research, and manufacturing design. These companies and the jobs they offer will enhance economic growth in nanoscale science and technology."

"Dakota County Technical College is at the forefront of innovation in education," said Dean Hart, executive vice president, NanoInk. "By implementing the NanoProfessor Program into the school's existing nanoscience technology program, students at DCTC will be provided with a comprehensive, hands-on education that will give them an edge when competing for jobs in the numerous industries where nanoscience applications are rapidly emerging. We are thrilled to have DCTC as the first college to implement the NanoProfessor pilot program, and anticipate that it will be a driving force in creating a skilled workforce of nanotechnologists."

According to Career Voyages, a Web site collaboration of the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Department of Education, careers in nanotechnology are second only to biotechnology in terms of current and future demand for skilled workers. For students, knowing about these emerging industries can help formulate an educational path that will provide focus for college selection and career decisions, offering them an opportunity to be on the leading edge of a growing professional field.

Career Voyages also lists the nanoscience technology program at DCTC as one of four, two-year programs nationwide helping to provide students with the necessary skills to gain employment in the field of nanotechnology. Students participating in the NanoProfessor Program at DCTC will use interdisciplinary-focused, hands-on experiments to quickly and easily begin working at the nanoscale level. These skills can be applied to careers in virtually every industry that are already using nanotechnology to enhance everyday products, ranging from printers and automobiles to cosmetics and sports equipment. New nanotechnology-based applications are emerging every day including advancements in the fields of medicine and energy.

The NanoProfessor Nanoscience Education Program will play an important role in bettering the industry and preparing students for future careers in the emerging field of nanoscience.

For more information on the NanoProfessor Program, please call (847) 679-NANO (6266) or visit www.NanoProfessor.net.

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About Dakota County Technical College (DCTC)
Dakota County Technical College is a public two-year institution of higher education dedicated to the philosophy that there is dignity in all work and value in individual growth and learning. It is the philosophy of the college that all of its students should have access to quality education that prepares them for rewarding careers. DCTC values its role in contributing to economic development by providing a knowledgeable and skilled workforce. The college views itself as a full partner in the higher education community and recognizes its contribution to lifelong learning. More information is available at http://www.dctc.mnscu.edu/index.cfm.

About the NanoProfessor™ Nanoscience Education Program

The NanoProfessor Nanoscience Education Program aims to advance the field of nanoscience and address the growing need for skilled workforce of nanotechnologists. The program utilizes NanoInk's state-of-the-art NLP 2000 Desktop Nanofabrication System to provide students an interdisciplinary-focused, hands-on approach to quickly and easily build custom-engineered, nanoscale structures in a classroom setting. The NanoProfessor Program, including equipment and an expert-driven curriculum, is available for community colleges, technical schools, high schools and universities nationwide. More information is available at www.NanoProfessor.net.

For more information, please click here

Contacts:
Media Contacts:
Sara DeNio
Dresner Corporate Services
(312) 780-7223

Christian Scarborough
Dresner Corporate Services
(512) 244-7088

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