Exploring the Nanoworld > About Us > News
We would like to welcome our new Director of Education, Dr. Anne Lynn Gillian-Daniel to the UW MRSEC! Anne Lynn comes to us from the UW Department of Biochemistry, where she designed, developed, and taught undergraduate laboratories, lectures, and seminar courses. She also has experience with the inner workings of a large research center, as she was an administrator with the UW National Magnetic Resonance Facility (NMRFAM). Dr. Anne Lynn Gillian-Daniel joined the IEG on Monday January 23, 2012.
Congratulations to Dr. Kermin Martínez-Hernández, a MRSEC IEG postdoctoral research associate received the American Chemical Society (ACS) Leadership development as part of the leadership institute in Fort Worth, TX.
MRSEC visiting scholar, Sandy Sine, and MRSEC postdoc, Dr. Kermin Martínez-Hernández, participated in the Martin Luther King Youth Service Day at the WID teaching labs. They led a nanotechnology outreach event with a group of ~100 students visiting from the Madison area community.
MRSEC postdoc, Dr. Kermin Martínez-Hernández, presented his RET research, “Assessing summer research experiences for teachers through reflective weekly journals” at the 10th Annual Hawaii International Conference on Education in Honolulu, HI.
MRSEC postdoc, Dr. Kermin Martínez-Hernández; Visiting Scholar, Sandy Sine; and former RET participant, Troy Dassler organized a workshop “Integrating cutting-edge nanotechnology into the inquiry-based learning experience.” This was part of the professional development workshop prepared for Middle Year’s Science Teachers and organized by CESA 6 Science Center: Meeting Demand for 21st Century Learning and UW-Madison Wisconsin Leads in Math and Science Initiative in Heidel House, Green Lake, WI.
MRSEC postdoc, Dr. Kermin Martínez-Hernández, led a group from UW-Madison to present hands-on activities at the Community Day as part of the SACNAS National Conference in San José, CA. Troy Dassler, former RET participant, Associate Dean José J. Madera, from CALS, and Carmela Diosana, from the Nelson Institute, participated and collaborated in this event. We had a blast inspiring young Hispanics and Native Americans!
MRSEC postdoc, Dr. Kermin Martínez-Hernández, presided the panel “Real-life Stories about struggles and successes in graduate school,” at the SACNAS National Conference, San José, CA.
MRSEC would like to congratulate the UW-Madison SACNAS Student Chapter for being officially recognized as a student organization UW-Madison and SACNAS National Office. MRSEC postdoc, Dr. Kermin Martínez-Hernández, initiated the efforts to establish this chapter at UW-Madison with a group of faculty and staff interested in the advancement of underrepresented minorities in STEM. He also serves as a facilitator/advisor and national liaison of the chapter. Congratulations UW-Madison SACNAS!
MRSEC postdoc Dr. Kermin J. Martínez-Hernández led a group of graduate students and staff who volunteered at the Wisconsin Science Festival on September 23, 2011 at WID. The MRSEC group presented seven hands-on materials science and nanotechnology activities (nanofoams, nanogold sensor, forms of carbon, nanotube balloon model, memory metal, amorphous metal, and ferrofluids) to the general public visiting the exhibit “Exploring the Nanoworld, Innovating through Materials."
MRSEC postdocs Dr. Tracy J. Stefonek-Puccinelli and Dr. Kermin J. Martínez-Hernández led a group of graduate and undergraduate student volunteers at the Wisconsin State Fair UW-Madison Day on August 10, 2011. The MRSEC group had a blast presenting three hands-on materials science and nanotechnology activities (memory metal, amorphous metal, and ferrofluids) to the general public visiting the “Exploration Stations” at the fair. (see this link for more information: http://www.news.wisc.edu/slides/385)
Congratulations to Dr. Kermin Martinez-Hernandez, a MRSEC IEG postdoctoral research associate who was selected to participate in the 2011 SACNAS Leadership Institute in DC during July 25-30th. He will be participating in an intensive week of sessions, planning, and leadership development target to advance the cause of underrepresented minority scientists at all levels.
Congratulations to Dr. Kermin Martinez-Hernandez, a MRSEC IEG postdoctoral research associate received a Young PR Scientist award to attend 43rd IUPAC 2011 World Chemistry Congress in Puerto Rico early August. He will be presenting a poster about bringing his chemical education expertise into MRSEC.
Good luck and thank you to all of the RET Teachers, who are giving their final presentations today. Next week they head to Puerto Rico, where they’ll be giving their presentations again and sharing their work with the RET Cohort at UPR-Mayaguez.
Congratulations to Troy Dassler, a featured RET participant of the MRSEC since summer 2008! Troy has accepted a new position and permanently moved onto campus as the new Lab and Education Coordinator for WARF. His new professional home will be the cutting-edge Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery (WID) building.
Former UW MRSEC REt teachers Troy Dassler and Evelyn Montalvo are helping our UPRM colleagues kick off their half of our joint RET Site Program. Dassler and Montalvo are helping on-site to train the UPRM cohort of teachers. A great start to our inaugural joint RET program!
Our second round of hearty MRSEC welcomes goes to our 2011 cohort of our Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Program! We get to work with K-12 and children’s museum educators from Wisconsin and Puerto Rico during our inaugural joint RET Program with UPR-Mayaguez.
UW MRSEC welcomes our 2011 cohorts of Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program participants to Wisconsin! A special welcome to Frank Soto from Univ. of Puerto Rico-Cayey, who will be working with the IEG.
Angela Johnson, the arts coordinator at the Madison Children’s Museum and a participant in this summer’s Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Program, gave a presentation at the WI state capitol today. Johnson spoke to a crowd of approximately 700 people about the importance of Youth Art Month.
TEDx-Madtown presents collaborator Troy Dassler, a first grade teacher at Leopold Elementary School in Madison, Wisconsin, who brings nanoscale science to elementary-aged students to engage and inspire them in the sciences (with some unexpectedly grand results).
A committee to examine the human health and environmental concerns related to the manufacture, use, and disposal of nanomaterials and to develop strategies to facilitate the development of nanotechnology to create and retain jobs in Wisconsin has been meeting at the direction of the State Legislature. IEG-collaborator George Lisensky and IRG2-leader Bob Hamers are public members.
Prof. Amy Moll from Boise State, a collaborator of IEG through the Materials Research Society, shares her experienced views on materials science outreach online at PhysicsWorld.
IEG post doc, Dr. Tracy Stefonek Puccinelli, led science education activities at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery (WID) about water’s interaction with surfaces of varying size surface features, using the Macro Micro Nano kit, with 5th graders from Aldo Leopold School.
On Wednesday, December 8, Troy Dassler, a three-time, award-winning UW MRSEC RET Participant, will share his knowledge and passion about science education during a grand-opening event for the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery (WID).
"Mastering Science and Public Presentations", a professional development video created in collaboration with NISE Net and MRS, is now online after premiering at the Fall 2010 MRS Meeting.
In the Fall 2010 newsletter of the Forum on Education of the American Physical Society, Zenner Petersen publishes education-outreach advice - citing Vanilla Ice as inspiration.
Dr. Kermin Martinez-Hernandez joined the IEG today as our second post doc. He recently received his PhD in chemical education from Purdue. Welcome to Wisconsin, Kermin!
IEG post doc Tracy Puccinelli and her husband welcomed their new son, Luca John Puccinelli, into the world today at a healthy 6lbs 15oz. All are doing well. Congrats!!
IEG Director, Greta Zenner Petersen, recently accepted MRS president-elect Jim De Yoreos invitation to serve as Chair of the MRS Public Outreach Committee (POC).
MRSEC IEG presented three posters at the UWAMIC (Advanced Materials Industrial Consortium) where commercial partners had the opportunity to collaborate with students and faculty in advanced materials research across the UW-Madison campus.
Congratulations to IEG collaborator, Prof. Wendy C. Cone, on the publication of her book, Survive and Thrive: A Guide for Untenured Faculty, Morgan & Claypool Publishers (2010). Available on Amazon.com .
Tracy Stefonek-Puccinelli worked with area middle-school teacher Bruce Curtis to arrange a campus visit for their school. Tracy and several MRSEC students will lead activities about biomimicry with the 6-8th graders.
NSF announced today its 5-year renewal award to the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network(NISE Net), of which UW MRSEC is subawardee.
IEG Director, Greta Zenner Petersen, made a guest appearance on ‘In Business with Jody and Joan’ WTDY TalkRadio 1670 to talk about the basics of nanotechnology. A podcast of the show is available.
MicroExplorers is about to purchase their 50th Explorer microscope! According to Prof. Doug Weibel, PI of the program, “Once we are 50, 100 is going to be a short hop.”
The September 2010 issue of the NISE NET Newsletter, "NanoBite" , featured the NanoStained Glass window collaboration.
Troy Dassler was an invited presenter at the Tuskegee University Science and Technology Open House for EPSCoR centers throughout Alabama. He shared our nano/bio education-outreach work with area K-12 teachers, students, and parents.
The newly re-opened Madison Children’s Museum features a NanoStained Glass window, made in collaboration with the Museum, MRSEC, and Aldo Leopold Elementary School.
IEG post doc, Dr. Tracy Stefonek-Puccinelli, led science eucation activities about magnetism with over 150 7-12 year-olds during the Milwaukee Devin Harris Camp for underrepresented youth.
Congratulations to Troy Dassler, an elementary-school bilingual science teacher and one of our RET participants, on winning 7 awards over the last year, totaling more than $33,500 in additional funds for his classroom and after-school programming.
Maria Barreras, two-time RET participant and Program Support Teacher for the MMSD Division of ESL, Bilingual Education, and Dual Language Immersion, Maria Barreras, began her Ed.D. Program in Educational Leadership at Edgewood college today. Congrats, Maria!
Congrats to Jen Ehrlich, multiple time RET Participant and chemistry teacher at Oregon High School, for completing the Door County Triathlon Half-Ironman!
IEG collaborator, Prof. George Lisensky, and undergrad, Tess Jaquez, added Tungsten Trioxide Intercalation to the Video Lab Manual.
Through the IEG’s partnership with Tuskegee University, Zenner Petersen led two invited K-12 teacher workshops at the 34th Annual SECME
Members and collaborators of the UW MRSEC (Bob Hamers, Tom Kuech, Greta Zenner Petersen, Wendy Crone, Dietram Scheufele) gave a WI Legislative Briefing on Nanotechnology.
The IEG welcomes our 7 RET teachers to campus.
The IEG welcomes REU student, Fri-Atsoh AchiriMofor, from University of Maryland Baltimore County.
After five years of iterative development, we have finally finished our NanoVenture game! This educational board game explores the connections between science, nanotechnology, and societal implications.
It is getting close to spring, which means outreach opportunities for students, staff, and faculty are plentiful. If you are from the UW campus and interested in participating in an education event or opportunity, contact Greta Zenner Petersen.
Congratulations to Troy Dassler, a first-grade bilingual teacher and one of our RET participants, for winning one of NSTAs Toyota TAPESTY grants. Troy will use his award, up to $10,000, to expand science education at Aldo Leopold Elementary School.
Working with the UW MRSEC, graduate student Adam Brewer built the Science Speakers website to connect K-12 teachers with scientists. Scientists interested in sharing their research and love of science can register in the searchable database of research and science presentations. Teachers can register to contact potential speakers and to advertise specific topics they want to bring to their students.
Check out the new blog about after-school science clubs, started by Troy Dassler, an RET Fellow of the MRSEC and an elementary-school bilingual teacher in Madison.
Exploring the Nanoworld | MRSEC Nanostructured Interfaces
Copyright © 2010 The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under DMR Grant No. 0520527
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.