Search: 15 and up

This activity is designed for high school students. In this experiment students use UV light to transfer a pattern (either a network of very small metal wires or self-drawn patterns) onto a surface-- a plastic board. The pattern is transferred by placing a mask (transparency sheet with the pattern) on a plastic board. The board is coated with a copper film that is covered with a light-reactive polymer (photo-resist). The polymer is exposed to UV light through the mask to make a pattern in the polymer. The metal under the exposed polymer is then chemically etched, leaving only the pattern on the surface of the board as determined by the mask. This top-down approach to nanotechnology is commonly used in manufacturing circuit boards for computers and other electronics.

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) produced a video podcast on the safe development of nanotechnology, as part of their series of nano educational podcasts. The video features University of Michigan's Risk Science Center director Andrew Maynard. The video is one of a series of visual and audio educational resources being developed by ASME on nanotechnology. Additional resources – which include interviews with experts in the field and cover both the applications and implications of nanotechnology – can be accessed at http://nano.asme.org/ Registration is required, but access is free.

Here is a curated selection of TEDTalks that relate to current nano science, technology, and engineering. From future medical applications to clean water, these videos give a voice and face to nano research. The resources section contains links to talks hosted at TED.com.