News
North Offers Nanotechnology Degree
Tuesday, July 11th, 2006
North Seattle Community College (NSCC) is the first college in the state to offer an Associate of Applied Science - T(AAS-T) degree in Nanotechnology, an emerging multi-disciplinary field that is expected to add at least 800,000 jobs to the country’s economy in the next 15 years.
NSCC’s AAS-T degree in nanotechnology was spurred by the emerging nano-field, which is expected to grow into a trillion-dollar industry in the next decade.
The National Science Foundation refers to nanotechnology as the ability to manipulate individual atoms and molecules, making it possible to build machines on the scale of human cells or create materials and structures from the bottom up with novel properties. It is the basis for the manufacturing of a wide range of technology products such as computer chips, flat panel displays, solar power arrays, robotics, industrial parts, biological implants, and DNA monitoring, medical and pharmaceutical equipment and such everyday things as tennis balls and automotive parts.
NSCC's 90-credit degree prepares graduates for entry-level technician positions in the nano/micro-fabrication industry and related manufacturing industries. Cross-disciplinary in nature, the program combines elements of materials science, chemistry, biology and physics, electronics and engineering. Students are exposed to clean room procedures including an understanding and maintenance of nano/micro fabrication and characterization equipment. The multidisciplinary design of this program will provide graduates with the skills to enter a wide range of materials-based industries, such as aerospace, electronics, life sciences, transportation, and pharmaceuticals.
The degree includes courses in nanotechnology, chemistry and organic chemistry, physics, computers for math and science, biochemistry, electronics, biology, statistics and statistics & quality control, interpersonal communication, and materials science.
A key partner in the endeavor is the Washington Technology Center, which has created the Washington Nanotechnology Initiative to increase the state’s share of this market– and the jobs that come with it. The college uses WTC’s Micro Fabrication Laboratory to provide students with hands-on experience in a “clean room” environment.
“As Washington companies adopt nano-and micro-scale production techniques, tools, equipment, and concepts, they will need workers who are adaptable, savvy and up-to-date on their impacts. North Seattle Community College is leading a consortium of community and technical colleges to establish a regional hub for developing such a nano-ready workforce,” commented John Martin, director of the Washington Nanotechnology Initiative.
“The cooperation and teamwork we have experienced around our nanotechnology initiative is a testament to how committed we all are to providing the workforce this exciting new industry will require in the future,” said Dr. Mary Ellen O’Keeffe, interim vice president for instruction at NSCC.
Another key partner is the University of Washington Center for Nanotechnology, which is providing resources for faculty professional development. The UW and the WTC Initiative are collaborating with NSCC, which is leading an effort to establish a seamless continuum of nanotechnology education from K-12 through college. It is developing a coalition of educational institutions that includes the University of Washington’s Center for Nanotechnology, Washington State University, and Eastern Washington University, 18 community and technical colleges, and the Seattle Public Schools.
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