Montana State University will host a free family science night from 5-7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 29, as part of a nationwide celebration called NanoDays / MicroDays.
The annual event, which focuses on nanotechnology, features small-scale science and engineering projects, both nano and non-nano (a nanometer is one-billionth of a meter), including MSU faculty and student microbiology research in Yellowstone National Park.
Activities and demonstrations will include exercises such as examining hydrogel, extracting DNA, viewing nanogold and experimenting with static electricity. The evening will help both children and adults understand nanoscience, including its impacts on society, in a fun and easy-to-understand format.
Nanotechnology, one of the country’s top research priorities, is an emerging field that blends chemistry, physics, engineering and other areas of science to study and manipulate matter at the atomic and molecular level. Nantechnologists may develop disease-fighting drugs, alternative energy solutions or ultra-strong sports equipment, among many applications.
Researchers at MSU are also using nanoscience to develop targeted vaccines, magnetic materials for electronics and catalysts for producing hydrogen.
All events take place at the Strand Union Ballrooms on the MSU campus. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
NanoDays / MicroDays is sponsored by MSU Extended University and Montana’s National Science Foundation Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.
For more information on NanoDays / MicroDays, see: http://eu.montana.edu/nanodays. For more information on Montana NSF EPSCoR, see: http://www.mtnsfepscor.org/.
