This virtual workshop took place May 14, 2021 over zoom. To view conference recordings Click Here.
Virtual reality is an attractive method of teaching for attracting younger students interested in technical education. It is also very effective for exposing students to new instruments and processes in a safe, low-cost and low-risk environment. This free-of-charge 4-hour workshop will bring together some of the experts working in this field who have designed, built, and used these modules for teaching students how to use instruments of nanotechnology. Design considerations and strategies will be discussed. Results of using VR simulations as laboratory aids will be presented, as well as experiences with industry outreach. There will also be presentations of recent research, technology, and outreach work from industry and academia, including a special presentation from a nanotechnology research and education facility at the University of South Australia.
Email for additional information or questions: Paul.Weber@uvu.edu
UC Irvine
Marc Madou is Distinguished Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of California, Irvine, where he also holds joint appointments in Biomedical Engineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. His current research focuses on miniaturization science (MEMS and NEMS), with emphases on chemical and biological applications, with current projects including polymer actuators for drug delivery, C-MEMS, and CD-based fluidics. He is also the author of the three volume text, Fundamentals of Microfabrication and Nanotechnology that is considered a standard reference and resource in the field of nanotechnology and MEMS/NEMS.
Paul Weber is Associate Professor of Physics at Utah Valley University. After spending many years in high energy physics research, he began carrying out experiments with students in thin films physics. He is currently the PI of a $704K from NSF-ATE to develop nanotechnology education experiments using environmentally safe techniques and to create virtuality modules for nanotechnology education. He has been teaching an introductory nanotechnology course using these modules for the past two years.
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Marty Clayton is Associate Professor in the Digital Media Department at Utah Valley University, where he is also the is the Program Director for the Animation and Game Development program. He also taught game development at the Art Institute of Salt Lake City and the University of Utah. At UVU, Marty develops virtual reality/augmented reality modules for nanotechnology education, and for the automotive design and nursing education programs, and has presented his work at many trade and industry meetings around the United States.
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Magesh Chandramouli is Associate Professor of Computer Graphics Technology at Purdue University Northwest, and was also a Frederick Andrews Fellow at Purdue University. He is the Principal Investigator for Project MANEUVER (Manufacturing Education Using Virtual Environment Resources) at PNW, which develops affordable virtual reality frameworks for digital manufacturing technicians, including desktop VR and alternative reality systems, including systems for local industry in the Chicago area.
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Craig Priest is a research leader at the Future Industries Institute and SA Node Director of the Australian National Fabrication Facility. His research teams tackle challenges in interfacial, physical, and analytical science in micro/nanofluidic devices and other small scale environments. He is the Node Director of ANFF-SA, a $20M investment dedicated to micro/nanofabrication of emerging technologies. A./Prof. Priest strategically uses industry engagement and research to enrich student experiences and employment outcomes, including founding the ANFF-SA Microengineering Winter School which has now trained over 450 students.
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Ash Black is a creative technologist at the University of Arizona's Eller School of Management. He is the Director of Tech Core, an innovation center for developing virtual and augmented reality programs for teaching across many areas of technology, and is the lead for their new NANO 2020 initiative, which focuses on best applications of virtual reality for teaching nanotechnology. He has an extensive background in web applications development, data visualization and virtual reality.
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Jonathan Beck is the Executive Director and Principal Investigator (PI) for the National Center for Autonomous Technologies (NCAT). His career in Aerospace, Geospatial and Autonomous technologies has involved creating unmanned aircraft system programs across state and federal organizations and higher education. In 2011, he supported Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls, MN in launching the nation’s first UAS maintenance program. Over the past 10 years he has served on the leadership team at Northland, advancing autonomous technologies education. He has served as Principal Investigator for 4 NSF ATE awards working with a dedicated team to create professional development workshops, STEM engagement opportunities, educational pathways, and industry partnerships, expanding educational resources.
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Jill Zande is the associate director and co-principal investigator for the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center in Monterey, California. In addition, she is President and Executive Director of MATE Inspiration for Innovation (MATE II), a nonprofit corporation dedicated to supporting the MATE ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicles) competition and its other programs that inspire and challenge students to learn and creatively apply science, technology, art, engineering, and math (STEAM) to solving real-world problems in a way that strengthens critical thinking, collaboration, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
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Mark Gill is the Director of the St. Cloud State University Visualization Lab (VizLab). He explores, pioneers, and evangelizes for the newest visualization technology and concepts. His career in software engineering almost predates the discipline of software engineering. He has three decades of experience in visualization and development of experiential learning environments. He’s worked in government, military, private, and academic arenas, finally landing in a position where he can help the next generation grow up comfortable with ideas it’s taken his entire life to develop. He teaches classes and leads student research teams in the areas of virtual/ augmented reality, video game development, and scientific/engineering visualization concepts.
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