Nano-Day

In Apr. 17th, 2004, the first Nano-Day ever in New York City was held in The City College of New York in Harlem. Nano-day was sponsored by the Columbia University of Nanocenter and The City College of New York in collaboration with Columbia University, Barnard College, and Rowan University. The activities were designed to stimulate student interest in science and to increase awareness of the importance of nanoscience. On the morning students were learning to presentations. The speakers included Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Nobel Prize winner and professor of Columbia University Horst Stormer, and Bill Nye the Science Guy, etc.

Senator Clinton sent a video to the City College of New York, in which she stated, "...For the many students here today, this is the chance for you to see and learn for the variety about opportunities and possibilities in science and engineering that will wait you as a college student...you will also begin to understand multitude wonderful possibilities that Nano technology does present..." Senator Clinton also explain the potential and the possible impact of Nano technology that it will be "as significant as the impact of steam engine, elecctricity, the internet and computer chips."

Professor Horst Stormer was the first presenter. He wore a black sweater and a pair of sneakers. He brought a basketball to the stage, which he said, was an atom. Instead of gave a boring and hard-to-understand presentation, Stormer used his slide and basketball to show the atoms lively. One example he used was, if a basketball is an atom, then ten basketballs are a nano. In this ratio, one of your hairs will cover the New York City and goes all the way to ¬¬¬¬¬¬___________. When a student asked, "How do you think we should restrict North Korea in using Nano technology?" Stormer responded humorously as, "I don't think the NBA is the right way to solve it."