On Friday, October 3, the 杏吧原创 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鈥攖ailored for a curious 21+ audience.
Participants traveled through decades of nanoscale innovation:
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1950s 鈥� The Dawn of Photolithography: Guests recreated the semiconductor photolithography process鈥攗sing a 鈥渃hip鈥� made of graham crackers, frosting, and sprinkles鈥攖o illustrate how early techniques laid the foundation for modern microelectronics.
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1960s 鈥� Cleanroom Revolution: Visitors explored the evolution of cleanrooms, learned how today controlled environments enable advanced nanoscience research, and suited up in authentic cleanroom garments鈥攑roving that bunny suits never go out of style.
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2000s 鈥� Graphene Discovery: Stepping into the new millennium, guests produced single-atom-thick graphene using the same scotch-tape method pioneered by Nobel Prize鈥搘inning researchers. They investigated how electricity interacts with this remarkable material and learned about innovations that now allow graphene to be produced on larger scales for next-generation technologies.
VINSE extends special thanks to our volunteers鈥攃leanroom staff Dr. Christina McGahan and Megan Dernberger, NanoGuide Courtney Ragle, and Tech Crew member Rafael Rodas Aguilar鈥攆or engaging the community with the nanoscale breakthroughs that continue to shape our world today.