Nanotechnology Research at North Penn High School
       
Nanotechnology research at North Penn High School Nanotechnology research at North Penn High School
 
 

Lansdale, Pennsylvania—June 9, 2010—The Engineering Design and Development students within the Engineering Academy at North Penn High School offered an engaging and exciting presentation about their nanotechnology research on Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at North Penn High School in Lansdale PA.

Engineering Design and Development, or EDD, is the capstone course of a national Pre-engineering program called Project Lead the Way.  In this course, students work together to research, design, and construct solutions to engineering problems.  North Penn’s EDD course has modified this approach by introducing their students to pure and applied nanotechnology research utilizing a polymer nanofiber production process known as electrospinning as its primary focus.

The study of nanotechnology is a true convergence of disciplines; science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).  This year, there were 26 seniors in two Engineering Design and Development (EDD) courses in North Penn High School’s Engineering Academy.

The students this year have chosen research topics in the following areas:

 

Aqueous Industries
  HYDROPHOBIC NANOFIBERS 

Armored Industries, Inc.
  SHEAR THICKENING FLUID

Nano Armory
  POLYMER TENSILE STRENGTH

Nano Research Group (NRG)
  DRUG AND PARTICLE ENCAPSULATION FOR THERAPY

NuSound
   SOUND DETECTION AND ENERGY STORAGE

Avant Guard
  ELECTROSPINNING IN CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTS

ET Industries, Inc.
  NANOFIBER AIR FILTERS

NANO ARMOR
  SHEAR THICKENING FLUID

NanoSound
  SOUND DETECTION DEVICES

Solar, Inc.
  PHOTOVOLTAIC POLYMERS AND NANOFIBERS

Jason Mineweaser
  SILVER EMBEDDED ANTIMICROBIAL NANOFIBERS


Global competition and the rapid advance of new and emerging technologies make it imperative that our students are prepared now more than ever to succeed in today's world.  One of the latest emerging technologies is Nanotechnology.  Most of the research in this field is currently being performed at the university and corporate levels; however, students within North Penn High School’s engineering academy are now researching in the nano world.

The Future is N.E.A.R. program (Nanotechnology Education And Research) offers the students of North Penn High School’s Engineering Academy an opportunity to gain 21st century skills that will help prepare them to become successful and highly marketable leaders in the new, technological global society.  The program introduces the fundamentals of nanotechnology, engineering research, and higher level thinking and application of knowledge to high school students while cultivating their interest in engineering, problem solving and life-long learning.

 
 EDD Presentation Video: 6/9/2010

 

Introduction

Mr. Boyer

00:00 to 04:42

  

 

What is nanotechnology?

D. Givigliano

04:42 to 09:58

  

 

Electrospinning

S. Prall

09:58 to 14:07

  

 

Student research summaries

R. Patel

14:07 to 17:41

  

 

Conclusion

J. Craig

17:41 to 23:17

  

 

Demonstrations

various students

23:17 to 26:42

  
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Presentation Invitation

The Engineering Design and Development students’ final presentation was on June 9, 2010 at the North Penn High School from 7:00pm to 9:00pm.
The first half of their presentation was in the audion where the students introduced the audience to concepts

such as nanotechnology, electrospinning and a summary of the eleven research teams findings.
Their presentations continued in the auxiliary gymnasium from 8:00pm to 9:00pm where they presented from their research posters and offered demonstration of their research.
 
 EDD Presentation Images: 6/9/2010
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Image 1: The Future is NEAR (Nanotechnology Education and Research) Presentation 6/9/2010.
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Image 2: Mr. Boyer - Introduction to the evening.
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Image 3: D. Givigliano - Introduction to nanotechnology.
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Image 4: S. Prall - Introduction to Electrospinning and polymer preparation.
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Image 5: T. Mahmood - Team research poster presentation.
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Image 6: G. Graf - Discussing research with current junior students soon to be 2010-2011 EDD students.
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Image 7: J. Dzurko - Polymer preparation demonstration.
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Image 8: S. Prall - Discussing sound detection research with visitors.
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Image 9: M. Gerhart - Discussing shear thickening fluid research with visitors.
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Image 10: P. Sowers - Demonstrating custom designed force testing apparatus for STF research.
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Image 11: S. McCaulley - Polymer preparation demonstration.
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Image 12: F. Morgan & A. Koffke discussing vacuum research.
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Image 13: F. Morgan & A. Koffke discussing vacuum research.
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Image 14: K. Sinding discussing photovoltaic polymer research.
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Image 15: Z. Sevcik discussing sound reproduction utilizing composite nanofiber speaker cones.
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Image 16: G. Weaver demonstrating the electrospinning process.
 
 EDD Research Images Throughout the Year
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Image 1: Team NRG Electrospinning.
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Image 2: Nanofiber speaker design.
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Image 3: Vacuum Chamber test.
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Image 4: Vacuum chamber test.
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Image 5: Nanofiber tensile test.
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Image 6: Nano Sound electrospinning.
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Image 7: Nano Sound research.
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Image 8: First electrospinning trial.
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Image 9: Novel paper suspension in nanofibers.  Notice the student cell phones.
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Image 10: Aqueous Industries electrospinning.
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Image 11: Nano Sound light to frequency circuit design test.
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Image 12: Student documenting research.
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Image 13: Nano Armor cutting material for test track.
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Image 14: Z. Testing fibers.
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Image 15: Preparing stubs for scanning electron microscope.
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Image 16: Taylor cone during coaxial electrospinning process.
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Image 17: Testing light to frequency circuit with nanofibers.
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Image 18: Kevlar (600 denier) drop test apparatus.
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Image 19: Kevlar drop test.
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Image 20: Vacuum chamber.
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Image 21: Fiber ring comparison.
 
 EDD Research Team Summaries
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Image 1: Aqueous Industries.
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Image 2: Mineweaser Corporation.
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Image 3: Solar Inc.
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Image 4: NRG.
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Image 5: Armored Industries Inc..
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Image 6: NANO ARMOR.
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Image 7: Avant Guard.
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Image 8: ET Industries.
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Image 9: Nano Sound.
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Image 10: NuSound.
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Image 11: Nano Armory.
 
 Where have the seniors been accepted?
 Coast Guard Academy  Clemson
 Cornell  University of Delaware
 Drexel University  Grove City College
 Kutztown University  University of Maryland
 Messiah College  Millersville University
 NC State University  NYU Polytechnic
 Penn State University  University of Pennsylvania
 Philadelphia University  University of Pittsburgh
 Rochester Institute of Technology  Stevens Institute of Technology
 Temple University  Villanova University
 Virgina Tech  West Virginia University
 Western New England University  Widener University
 
 
 
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