Nan-O-Style

Nanotechnologie ↔ Modern Lifestyle

The scientific aims of the project are:
> Investigation of modern lifestyle habits by adolescents and the associated new possibilities of combined exposure to NMs and MLPs
> Determination of the NM-MLP interactions by Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) and the resulting biological effects in cell culture models
> Generation of knowledge and attitudes towards nanotechnology from adolescents, adults and employees in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) working in the field
The educational aims of the project are the development of an individually adapted communication style with the adolescents, a digital collaborative learning system and the compilation of an education initiative about nanotechnology including teaching resources (Nanobox) and peer-teaching programs.
In order to achieve a high variety of perspectives, students from different types of Austrian higher schools (technical/scientific vs. economic vs. artistic) will work in close contact with scientists from academia. Due to the within Nan-O-Style acquired competences and the established network between academic scientists, students and educational institutions, the students will develop new models for interdisciplinary teaching in mathematical/scientific/technical (MINT) subjects and apply them as best practice examples. We will particularly focus on schools with an economic or fashion background which typically have a higher share of girls. A number of pre-scientific projects in nano-technological, nano-biological or nano-educational topics will be carried out. This approach towards interdisciplinary MINT education will thus strengthen the profile formation of the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg and further extend to the education of teachers (coordination of earlier EU framework projects  NanoTOES and  NanoEIS by Prof. Duschl). Nan-O-Style is internationally well-connected as it further includes educational partners in Israel and Spain.

Project leaders:    Prof. Martin Himly and Prof. Albert Duschl
Project type:        §27 Sparkling Sience project funded by BMWFW