The National Science Foundation-supported Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) on Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces at the University of Wisconsin – Madison has an extensive and highly successful education and outreach effort. One theme of this effort is the development of instructional materials based on cutting-edge research in nanoscale science and engineering. Nanotechnology examples, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), shape memory alloys, amorphous metals, and ferrofluids, illustrate interdisciplinary research that provides connections among materials science, chemistry, physics, and engineering. They also highlight the tools of nanotechnology, such as scanning probe microscopy, electron microscopy, self-assembly, x-ray diffraction, and chemical vapor deposition, associated with the preparation and characterization of nanostructured materials. These and other nanotechnology concepts are illustrated with video demonstrations in a web-based resource called the Nanoworld Cineplex, which contains movies of experiments and demonstrations that can be brought into the classroom. Numerous experiments are also available in the Nanotechnology Lab Manual, which can be used as either a virtual laboratory or as a web-based video lab manual. These resources for using nanotechnology to teach fundamental materials science and engineering principles are available at
