Nanotechnicians

Participate in school science clubs to learn the basics of scientific exploration. The American Chemical Society (ACS) offers its ChemClub program at more than 600 high schools across the country. According to the ACS Web site, ChemClubs allows students to “participate in after-school activities, get involved in community building, learn about chemistry careers, enjoy social events, and better understand how chemistry plays a role in our everyday lives.” Ask your science teacher if your school has a ChemClub. If not, start one. The American Association of Chemistry Teachers now manages the program for the ACS. See https://teachchemistry.org/chemclub for more information.

Learn the basics of nanotechnology online. The Internet offers a wealth of information. About Nanotechnology (https://www.nano.gov/about-nanotechnology) provides a good introduction, but many other resources can be found via a keyword search. To gain firsthand information, participate in information interviews with nanotechnology professionals and educators. Ask your school counselor or science teacher to help arrange an information interview. Suggested interview questions include: What made you want to enter this career? What type of tools and equipment do you use to do your work? What do you like most and least about your job? How did you train for this field? What are some key skills for success? What advice would you give to young people about preparing for the field and being successful on the job? How will advances in technology change the field? Perhaps you could even job-shadow a nanotechnician to learn even more about the field.

Nanotechnology and science summer classes and programs at colleges and universities are another great way to explore the field. For example, the University of California at Los Angeles offers the Nanoscience Lab Summer Institute (https://summer.ucla.edu/program/nanoscience-lab-summer-institute), a summer workshop for high school students interested in advanced science and technology. Students participate in hands-on experiments that teach them the key concepts of nanoscale phenomena. Similar programs are offered by colleges and universities across the country. Contact schools in your area to learn more.