First outreach workshop offered by the Institute for Functional Nanomaterials
On November 16 and 17, the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus (UPRRP) conducted a nanosciences workshop for high school students. It was held on the research facilities of the Resource Center for Science and Engineering. The activity focused mainly on LED technology and its applications in everyday life. The workshop was led by the Cornell Center for Materials Research (CCMR) education team.
Five high schools were invited: Pedro Albizu Campos, Gabriela Mistral, University Gardens, Luis Muñoz Marín, and the Ponce High. We received 125 participants in two days including students and teachers. The objectives were to expand the students' knowledge of some of these topics and to spark their interests for a possible future career on nanotechnology.
The workshop was divided into five basic steps. First, Nelson Morales and Roberto Rodríguez, graduate students from Cornell University, gave a presentation were they explained LEDs related to energy and wavelength. After this presentation, the high school students had a sort of hands-on workshops. The students were assisted by undergraduates, the Educational Director, Dr. Ana Rita Mayol, reviewed some of the key topics. Azlin Biaggi, a graduate student from the UPRRP, gave a presentation on television displays and recently on this field. The students visited the characterization where nanoresearch is conducted.
The activity was generally a success. Results of the evaluations are included.
Kevin Dilley, EPO Manager
Jane Earle, EPO Manager
Robert Rodríguez
Nelson F. Morales
Javier Figueroa, Outreach Coordinator
Azlin Biaggi, Display Technology
Angélica Rivera
Javier Monserrate
Ana Calzada
Miguel Castro
Workout evaluation
| Criteria | Excellent | Good | Poor | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presenter's ability to communicate with the participants. | 28 (90.3%) | 3 (9.7%) | 0 | 0 |
| Interaction between the presenter and the participants. | 23 (74.2%) | 8 (25.8%) | 0 | 0 |
| Discussion's contribution to my academic future. | 23 (74.2%) | 7 (22.6%) | 1 (3.2%) | 0 |
| The validity and relevance to modern issues in nanosciences. | 26 (83.9%) | 5 (16.1%) | 0 | 0 |
| Usefulness of the printed material. | 23 (74.2%) | 5 (16.1%) | 3 (9.7%) | 0 |
| Participants' opportunity to ask questions. | 30 (96.8%) | 1 (3.2%) | 0 | 0 |
| Use of the technology (audiovisual equipment). | 24 (77.4%) | 7 (22.6%) | 0 | 0 |
| Time management. | 24 (77.4%) | 7 (22.6%) | 0 | 0 |
| Place where the activity was held. | 31 (100%) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| General quality of the activity. | 28 (90.3%) | 3 (9.7%) | 0 | 0 |
| Criteria | Completely agree | I agree | Don't agree |
|---|---|---|---|
| The activity fulfilled your expectations. |
7 (53.8%) |
6 (46.2%) |
0 |
| I learned new concepts. | 13 (100%) | 0 | 0 |
| The workshop was conducted in a pleasant and educational manner. | 10 (76.9%) | 3 (23.1%) | 0 |
| The workshop motivated me to learn more about this topic. | 6 (46.2%) | 7 (53.8%) | 0 |
