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A Hands-on, Introductory Course for First-year Engineering Students in Microsystems and Nanomaterials

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Conference

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Atlanta, Georgia

Publication Date

June 23, 2013

Start Date

June 23, 2013

End Date

June 26, 2013

ISSN

2153-5965

Conference Session

Micro-Technology and Nanotechnology

Tagged Division

Multidisciplinary Engineering

Page Count

13

Page Numbers

23.53.1 - 23.53.13

DOI

10.18260/1-2--19067

Permanent URL

https://strategy.asee.org/19067

Download Count

574

Paper Authors

biography

Harold T. Evensen University of Wisconsin, Platteville

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Hal Evensen is a Professor of Engineering Physics and the Program Coordinator for the Microsystems & Nanotechnology Engineering Program.

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Abstract

A Hands-on, Introductory Course for First-year Engineering Students in Microsystems and NanomaterialsWe have recently developed a one-credit course designed for first-year studentsconsidering the new major in Microsystems and Nanomaterials Engineering. It isbased on a successful “Engineering Projects” course offered through our GeneralEngineering department, which has subsequently been made into a popularsummer program for prospective students. The goal of this new course, whichmeets two laboratory hours per week, is to expose students to several of theimportant ideas and concepts in microsystems and nanotechnology, and to givethem hands-on projects that will help them learn these multidisciplinary ideas.Further, the “ulterior motive” of this course is to inspire students to stay inengineering, and to give them a flavor of the interdisciplinary nature of this field.The course progresses through several modules, which were created by facultyexperts in each field. These modules are designed so that a single faculty membercan conduct the course, and covers topics in: laboratory safety and cleanroomprotocols; MEMS devices and scaling, including using a tabletop scanning electronmicroscope and a MEMS probe; fabrication including lithography, vacuumsystems and thin film deposition; nanoscience, including nanocrystalline solar cellsand nanopatterning; nanoscale measurements including principles of atomic forcemicroscopy; nanobiotechnology; and societal issues. In addition to describing thecourse and its modules, we will also report on the results of the course and its twoiterations.

Evensen, H. T. (2013, June), A Hands-on, Introductory Course for First-year Engineering Students in Microsystems and Nanomaterials Paper presented at 2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Atlanta, Georgia. 10.18260/1-2--19067

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