Think Small

As the Executive Director of MNT-EC, I am thrilled to celebrate the next chapter of the Journal of Advanced Technological Education (J ATE) and its transition to long-term sustainability. J […]

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Rick and Linette Brammer came back to PCC’s campus to celebrate Rick’s 80th birthday. This visit wasn’t just a sentimental journey but a return to where Rick and Linette first met in a Pasadena City College chemistry lab over 60 years ago.

Read more about Ani Hakobyan’s story as she studies at PCC and works toward a career in the semiconductor industry.

We’re working on a National Roadmap to serve our students and the semiconductor (and related) industries.

Map showing NSF ATE Centers and Projects all around the USA. Article highlights ideas for how to use your time at the annual conference and some sessions to look for.

Scroll through and pick one of the 10 episodes from Season 4 of the Talking Technicians Podcast. There’s so much to learn from these technicians as Dr. Peter Kazarinoff talks […]

In this month’s “Spotlight,” we focus on Dr. Antar Tichavakunda, a scholar whose work at the intersection of race and higher education has been vital in advancing the Micro Nano […]

UPDATE: You can also follow along on our new Facebook page (give it a like, if that’s your thing) and on our MNT-EC LinkedIn page. At MNT-EC, we are working […]

Hostile Takeover: You have probably heard the term, which refers to when one business takes over another by less-than-honorable means, as most would understand. * * * This is a […]

Vivian (Ngoc) Vu is a dedicated student pursuing the Photonics Certificate Program at Stonehill College. Despite challenges, Vivian’s hard work has enhanced her academic knowledge, opening doors to a career […]

Mel Cossette LinkedIn Profile Location: Washington, United States  Greg Kepner LinkedIn Profile Location: Iowa, United States    In this month’s “Spotlight,” we shine a light on two extraordinary individuals whose contributions […]

Welcome to our new series, “Student Success Stories,” where we highlight students’ journeys who have made significant strides in their education and careers through community college. Today, we feature Anton […]

We are excited to announce a new series under my Director’s Message section, focused on showcasing the achievements of our students in the fields of micro and nanotechnology. This series […]

LinkedIn profile: Engineering Faculty – Highline College Location: Des Moines, Washington, United States Welcome back to our “Center Manager Notes,” where this month’s “Spotlight” shines on Cait Cramer, an essential […]

In a unique convergence of minds and ideas, the 20th Anniversary of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) Symposium showcased the monumental strides in nanotechnology. It spotlighted student involvement with posters […]

Working within the CHIPS and Science Act space has highlighted a gap in the last year—Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) often feels more like a checkbox for funding than a […]

Internships, especially paid ones, are a terrific way to gain experience. Although much of our focus at MNT-EC is on college students, we also strive to update our students and families […]

Center Manager Notes _Partner Spotlight _Scot McLemore

Over the last four years, the Micro Nano Technology Education Center (MNT-EC) and its partners have dedicated themselves to advancing the nanotechnology field through comprehensive educational programs. At its core, […]

In the United States, vocational training and apprenticeships are often undervalued compared to university education, even though they can lead to high-paying and in-demand careers. This trend is particularly evident […]

Note: MNT-EC recently teamed up with Wingspans, an exciting new career platform, to connect with more community college technician programs. Links and more info below.  James Endl’s career as a […]

In the rapidly evolving field of nanotechnology, the concept of ‘collaborative innovation’ becomes increasingly significant. The National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program from the American Semiconductor Innovation Coalition stands as a […]

As a MNT-EC student, Nguyen’s award-winning presentation delved into the intricate world of gold conjugate nanoparticles, showcasing the innovative strides being made in the field. View some photos of the […]

Note: MNT-EC recently teamed up with Wingspans, an exciting new career platform, to connect with more community college technician programs. Links and more info below.  Embark on a microscopic journey […]

One of our partners, Dr. Matthias W. Pleil, Principal Investigator – SCME, Research Professor and Lecturer, University of New Mexico was recently interviewed for the National Nanotechnology Initiative podcast.  Listen […]

>>Article by Dr. Jared Ashcroft<< Update: ASEE TV video at end with Dr. Ashcroft and students exploring fields of micro, nano, and science. We find ourselves at a unique crossroads […]

Check out this captivating virtual journey deep into Intel’s cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing facilities, where the technological engines driving our digital world are brought to life. In this immersive experience, you […]

The Micro Nano Technology Education Center (MNT-EC) recently celebrated a significant achievement, with three of its evaluators being recognized nationally for their exceptional work. Terryll Bailey, Dr. Jalil Bishop, and […]

What Are KSAs and Why Are They Important for Your Future Career? As you start exploring different career paths and preparing for your future, you may come across the term […]

The Goldwater Scholarship is one of the most prestigious undergraduate scholarships awarded to students who excel in the fields of mathematics, natural sciences, and engineering. This year, two MNT-CURN students […]

Women have changed the world and continue to do so. Some of you may think it was only men who did so, but that would be both inaccurate, and quite […]

Vacuum systems are essential to various industries, and technicians who can maintain, troubleshoot, and repair them are highly valued. Excellent resources to help them learn and prepare for working with […]

We will be updating this page with more resources, but for now, click this form to sign up for this wonderful opportunity from the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office. Below is […]

We want to acknowledge the significant impact of Black and Women scientists and leaders on the world and on American culture as we celebrate Black History Month and Women’s History […]

Welcome to Random Small, our collection of stuff that is happening each month at the Micro Nano Education Technology Center – MNT-EC. Yes, there is a bit of a theme […]

Thanks to those of you who have supported and lifted up the MNT-EC site and this news section, for sharing on social media and telling your peers about us. Lots […]

Just shared this on our Micro Nanotechnology (MNT-EC) LinkedIn page and thought you might appreciate seeing the full sized gallery. …

Thanks for reading our monthly email update, if that’s how you found this post. If you found us by digging into our website and the Think Small news and blog […]

Heading into the weekend which for some is going to turn into vacation for the holiday week — here is a great podcast for you in those quiet days pre-post […]

The Micro Nanotechnology Education Center at Pasadena City College was highlighted within the official broadcast at this year’s American Association for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference. The video was presented […]

National Institute for Innovation and Technology and the Micro Nanotechnology Education Center partner for apprenticeships.

November 1, 2022 Update: #1: The National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) 2023 conference will be held April 13-15, 2023 on the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire campus in Eau Claire, […]

In early August, MNT-EC was a proud sponsor and supporter of the Experience STEAM event at the Mall of America. It is a powerful testimony of what happens when NSF […]

As water and ice destroyed the ship’s hull, the crew of the famed HMS Endurance, abandoned the ship and began their 25-day journey back to civilization under Sir Ernest Shackleton’s […]

The National Center for Autonomous Technologies (NCAT) funded through the NSF Advanced Technological Education (NSF ATE) program is leading out this summer organizing a major STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, […]

Janet Teng, Pasadena City College Student, is one of 417 college students from across the United States to be selected for prestigious Barry Goldwater scholarship. 

UPDATE: Fall 2022 Internship for NEATEC-NIST PDF below: — Two Summer Internship Opportunities are in this post — NEATEC and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) offer a […]

Dear Technician Education Community, The Micro Nano Technology Education Center is a National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education National Center that aims to increase opportunities for community college students to […]

If one thing captures Dr. Jared Ashcroft, it is this quote from him in a recent ATE Impacts article: “If I see an opportunity that looks like I can impact […]

“If our small minds, for some convenience, divide this universe into parts—physics, biology, geology, astronomy, psychology, and so on—remember that nature does not know it!“  —Richard Feynman  (Shout out to […]

The world around us provides enormous opportunities for understanding science. Arguably, it has been one of humankind’s greatest inspirations for many, if not most, inventions, art, and other creations. Nature offers […]

Social media is a great way to keep up with the news. Well, mostly. Sometimes it can be a distraction, too. To make platforms like Twitter pay off, we are […]

Rick Vaughn at Rio Salado College is encouraging Arizona residents to think small. Small as in nanotechnology size small. Smaller than you can see with the naked eye. Thanks to […]

Dear Technician Education Community, The Micro Nano Technology Education Center is a National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education National Center that aims to increase opportunities for community college students to […]

Whether you are a student, the parent of one, an educator, or an interested citizen scientist, the Micro Nano Technology Education Center (MNT-EC) YouTube channel is a place where you […]

Nanotechnology is a fast-moving field revolutionizing major areas such as medicine, engineering, food science (agriculture and consumer products), aerospace, defense, materials science, and energy, to name just a few. The […]

Did you know there is a National Nanotechnology Day? On Saturday, October 9th, the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI), celebrates National Nanotechnology Day. The 16-member network in locations around the […]

If you have wondered how today’s youth, in the USA and around the world, are learning and growing despite the COVID-19 Pandemic, take a look at the many STEM events, […]

With a focus on community college faculty, in particular, technician educators, the new Journal of Advanced Technological Education team is offering an intensive 3-day workshop starting September 14.  The Journal […]

Supported by the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education (NSF ATE) program, the High Impact Technology Exchange Conference (HI-TEC) is a national conference on advanced technological education where secondary and […]

The Center for Aviation and Automotive Technological Education Using Virtual E-Schools (CA2VES) recently announced that Dr. Paul Weber, Utah Valley University, received the 2021 Coordination Network Innovation Award. Dr. Weber […]

Led by AACC and NSF, the competition seeks to create STEM solutions to real-world challenges that benefit society Pasadena City College placed first out of the 12 finalist teams that […]

Statistic analysis is not always easy to understand, especially studying it remotely in the midst of a pandemic. Five undergraduate students at Pasadena City College designed and implemented a program […]

Technical degrees often lead to better paying jobs. “Will this help me get a good job?” is often one of the first questions a student has about a technical degree […]

In 2020, Pasadena City College (PCC) received a $7.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation ​Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program to develop new approaches to teaching students about micro […]

Dear Technician Education Community, The Micro Nano Technology Education Center is a National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education National Center that aims to increase opportunities for community college students to […]

As part of the Micro Nano Technology Education Center Summer Seminar Series, Greg Kepner and Frank Reed presented on the photonics field and job opportunities in this exciting career path.  […]

Leading Fortune 500 companies have improved employee retention by as much as 75 percent through mentoring initiatives. A recent MentorcliQ (a mentoring software company) study found that becoming more involved […]

A Quick Definition of Nanotechnology and Nanoscience Nanos is the Greek term for Dwarf. Walt Disney could have given the nanotechnology industry a kickstart back in 1937 if he only […]

Most people have heard of the Hubble Space Telescope. Now flip that idea and direct it at the atomic level. In a new National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, principal investigator, […]