Nanophotonics modules for diverse curricular incorporation

Nanophotonics is a field within science and engineering that includes research to create nanoscale structures with desired optical properties as well as using photons to fabricate and characterize systems at the nanoscale. The field of nanophotonics has resulted in a plethora of new devices including highly efficient light emitting diodes, lasers, and display systems. In addition, it has been essential in the development of new imaging techniques for biomedical research, as well as in the development of new fabrication methodologies for electronics. To date, these remarkable contributions to engineering have largely been ignored in the undergraduate curriculum in electrical engineering. Here, we present our efforts to develop educational modules for nanophotonics with an emphasis on how the resulting technologies apply to sustainability and quality of life via devices based on nanostructures: e.g., solar cells, high efficiency lighting, environmental sensing, and other lower power optoelectronic devices. Specifically, in this project, we are developing nanophotonics Knowledge Modules (KM) that explain the necessary fundamental scientific knowledge and Application Modules (AM) that allow students to acquire hands-on experience while simultaneously providing a critical link to how technology can contribute to sustainability. In addition, the education modules are designed to be easily tailored to different levels of academic preparation: high school courses, introductory college courses or senior-level college courses. These modules will form the basis for a senior level electrical engineering course, EE459, at the University at Buffalo (UB), but will also be integrated into introductory and midlevel courses in electrical engineering at UB and also are applicable to physics courses taught for engineers. Moreover, the developed modules will be used within our outreach program to students within high needs inner-city schools in the Buffalo Public Schools system. The developed modules will exploit a shared undergraduate nanotechnology education laboratory.