VINSE Outreach

  Can you measure electricity generated by simply shining light on a solar cell? On Wednesday, November 19, VINSE welcomed 15 students from Station Camp High School to the Cleanroom Solar Cell Lab. Inside the VINSE… Read More

On Wednesday November 5th, VINSE welcomed 15 students from White House Heritage High School to our Forensics Lab. Imagine arriving as the first detective at a murder scene – how do find the hidden clues? The students became forensic scientists for the day, using a range of advanced spectroscopy… Read More

To share the excitement of making science on a tiny scale, the Vanderbilt Institute for Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE) participated in the Tennessee Maker Fest on October 4, hosted by the Wond’ry at Vanderbilt University. Guided by VINSE NanoGuides, festival attendees explored nanoscale… Read More

On Friday, October 3, the Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE) went retro for the RETROspective Rewind Way Late Play Date at the Adventure Science Center. VINSE hosted three interactive demonstrations that showcased pivotal nanoscience discoveries and innovations spanning the past 70 years—tailored for a curious… Read More

The program introduces students to core concepts in nanoengineering, including nanoparticle behavior, materials science, and nanoscale problem-solving. Students will participate in lectures, hands-on labs, and research activities alongside Vanderbilt faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers. The course is led by instructors Greg Walker and Sarah Ross, with teaching support from… Read More

Middle Tennessee teachers — take your classroom beyond the textbook with the VINSE-VSVS Rural Teacher Program! Sign-ups are now open for the VINSE-VSVS Rural Teacher Program—apply by June 20th! This program provides middle school science teachers with hands-on lesson kits… Read More

On Wednesday, April 9, Dr. Christina McGahan from the Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE) visited the STEM club at Jonathan Edwards Classical Academy in Whites Creek, Tennessee, to present an overview of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Dr. McGahan shared her academic and professional journey, from having no background… Read More

On Monday, March 10, VINSE welcomed 11 students from Robertson County’s homeschool group, Life is a Field Trip, organized by Susan Halsam, for our Cleanroom Solar Cell Lab. Inside the VINSE cleanroom, home of the cleanest air in Middle Tennessee, students explored solar energy through hands-on activities. During the lab,… Read More

On Friday, November 8th, VINSE welcomed 9 students from Clarkrange High School to our Forensics Lab. It seems like there was nothing eye-catching at the “crime scene,” but what were the hidden clues? During the forensics lab program, the students solved a whodunnit-themed activity using several types of spectroscopies including… Read More

On Friday, October 25th, VINSE welcomed 14 students from Central Magnet School to our Forensics Lab. Their task was to gather evidence of the “murderer” using the different tools in the lab before the day’s end! Using several types of spectroscopies including Raman, FTIR, absorption and photoluminescence, clues were revealed. Read More