Nanoscience Workshop for Teachers: Nanoscale Control of Wetting

Nanoscale Control of Wetting: The superhydrophobic surfaces experiment blends elements from chemistry, biology, and physics to vividly demonstrate how the incorporation of nanoscale texture at a material’s surface can lead to dramatic changes in certain physical properties such as wettability. Students will learn basic concepts in surface chemistry and discuss emerging industrial applications for materials with these unique characteristics.

The Nanoscience Workshop for Teachers program demonstrates advanced nanoscience experiments on Saturdays throughout the academic school year for elementary, middle, and high-school teachers from across the greater Los Angeles area. The workshops are designed to give teachers the training and resources they need to implement nanoscience experiments in their own classrooms.

Our team of dedicated faculty, graduate students, and post-doctoral scholars begin each workshop by presenting teachers with a critical question related to the concept being introduced. Discussion then takes place around this scientific or nanotechnology concept, giving the teachers an opportunity to gauge their existing levels of knowledge on the topic. The teachers learn the experiment and the nanoscience concepts behind it during a hands-on lab. The activity concludes by revisiting the initial discussion from earlier in the day. They review the nanoscience concepts presented and work with their peers to determine where the concept will fit into their curricula, Next Generation Science Standards, and Common Core Standards.