(86e) Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Option Network In Nanoscience and Molecular Engineering Education

The first interdepartmental NanoScience and Molecular Engineering (NME) Option Network has been established at the University of Washington, involving multiple departments from Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering,  Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry to Physics, with an extension to community colleges (North Seattle Community College and Edmonds Community College). Within the NME network, discipline-linked NME Option programs are offered to undergraduate students providing hands-on experience and strong interdisciplinarity in NME, and integration in departmental undergraduate core curricula. Since the inception of the NSF NUE supported NME program in 2009,[1] the program has raised great interest from both students and faculty by building on the existing infrastructure, sharing resources responsibly and sensitively, operating in parallel with novel curricula developments, lowering barriers between disciplines, and offering through official departmental Options, credit friendly and opportune NME programs.

[1] National Science Foundation Nanotechnology Undergraduate Education (NSF NUE) program, Award Number 0938558.