The rapid development of nanotechnology has exposed numerous challenges to core curricula in STEM focusing the importance of length scale. With the support of a grant from the NSF, CCLI DUE-0942672, we have been exploring interdisciplinary approaches to engage students across all length scales from micro through nano in the context of device fabrication. The idea was to include microfabrication content in across various levels as an integrated part of science and engineering rather than as a separate subject. We specifically emphasized presenting it as 'multidisciplinary,' and included its chemistry aspects (for example, photochemistry of resists) in chemistry classes, its physics aspects (for example, lithographic resolution) in physics classes, and so on.  Several �pipeline� modules were developed.  These small experiments or presentations fill the dual role of complementing the class they are associated with, while exposing undergraduates to microfabrication technology. The ambition is to make them as 'hands-on' as possible, a level above a demonstration, but at the same time taking into account the time constraints of the existing course and the reality that the students are not going to be qualified to safely do much in the clean room. Some experimental modules which were implemented include a remote LED characterization experiment, an organic light emitting diode fabrication module, and a grating fabrication module. As another set of presentation pipeline tools, several videos were created that documented microfabrication of our devices at our facility. These videos have been presented to several classes and used to introduce the subject and the class to new students. A capstone course which explicitly covered microfabrication was also offered to senior level undergraduates. Results from a longitudinal survey of the first and second classes of the capstone course indicate this course filled an important need in the curriculum.

Multidisciplinary introduction to nanotechnology through microfabrication

247th National Meeting (2014)

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