Nanotechnology: Billionths at work!

So small yet so powerful ... We cannot see it, but it can change our everyday life! "Nano" indicates something small, something minute, about a billion times less than a meter. In these dimensions materials can go ‘crazy’ and display unique, unprecedented properties. How does the size of a material affect its properties? How do some plants manage to repel water and clean themselves? How can I make my clothes stain resistant? How does the gecko lizard walk on the ceiling? How can a robot climb onto a glass window? How do all this relate to bio-mimicry and everyday life?

Nanotechnology is linked to many disciplines, such as physics, biology, chemistry and mathematics, to produce useful applications with innovative properties. Through a series of approaches, including problem-solving, designing and conducting experiments, games, studying natural and artificial nanomaterials, searching for information, modeling, and group activities, students are introduced to the exciting world of science and technology at a nanoscale!