VINSE Outreach

How do detectives turn crime-scene evidence into useful clues? On Thursday, October 29th, VINSE welcomed students from Centennial High School to our Forensics Lab to find out. Students explored how scientists use light to learn about the composition and properties of different materials. Using Raman, FTIR, absorption, and photoluminescence spectroscopy,… Read More

How can blackberry juice help students learn about solar energy? On Friday, October 23, 2026, we welcomed 12 students from Summit High School to our Blackberry Solar Cell Lab. Students used blackberry juice to build their own solar cells, tested how much electrical power they could produce, and then explored… Read More

  The Vanderbilt Engineering Ambassadors welcomed students from Margaret Allen Middle School for a day of hands-on activities that made science and engineering engaging, understandable, and accessible. VINSE co-sponsored the outreach event, which was held at the Engineering and Science Building. The Vanderbilt Engineering Ambassadors are Vanderbilt graduate students… Read More

Twenty-two high schools from ten counties across Middle Tennessee are participating in the VINSE High School Field Trip Program for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027. The program offers students the opportunity to explore nanoscale science and engineering beyond the classroom through hands-on lessons in the VINSE cleanroom. Each visiting… Read More

VINSE brought nanoscale science to life at the 2026 Tennessee Maker Fest on September 26, hosted by the Wond’ry at Vanderbilt University. Through interactive demonstrations led by VINSE NanoGuides, visitors explored how nanoscale science and fabrication techniques shape the technologies around us. Festival-goers participated in three hands-on activities showcasing… Read More

  How can tiny structures in your favorite berry turn sunlight into electricity? On Monday, May 4th, VINSE welcomed students from White County High School to the Blackberry Solar Cell Lab for an interactive dive into solar energy and nanoscience. Students crafted working solar cells using blackberry juice and… Read More

VINSE was excited to participate in TWISTER (Tennessee Women in Science, Tech, Engineering, and Research) at the Adventure Science Center on Saturday, February 7th. The Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE) hosted three hands-on activities to showcase nanoscience and give over 100 high school girls a glimpse… Read More

While much of the campus enjoys spring break, VINSE NanoGuides welcomes 50 students from three middle Tennessee high schools: Cookeville, Greenbrier, and Springfield. They’re here to take part in our Blackberry Solar Cell hands-on lab to learn how nanoscale materials affect renewable energy technologies. Students made their own dye-sensitized solar… Read More

What role does design play in controlling fluid motion? Today, VINSE welcomed 16 students from Hillsboro High School for an interactive experience in the Cleanroom Microfluidics Lab. The visit introduced students to the VINSE cleanroom, a room with the cleanest air in Middle Tennessee, where they explored microfluidics with hands-on… Read More

The Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, represented by Sarah Ross, has received the Community Partnership Excellence Award from Vanderbilt Compliance Services in recognition of its longstanding commitment to collaboration, education, and responsible community engagement. The award honors programs that exemplify meaningful partnership in higher education. In its official… Read More