The National Center for Earth and Environmental Nanotechnology (NanoEarth) participated in the 2024 National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure’s (NNCI) annual conference hosted by KY Multiscale. The annual conference aims to “provide an opportunity for NNCI site directors, staff, external advisory board, NSF program officers, and invited guests to share updates and exchange ideas”. Topics discussed related to national research topics, outreach to underserved communities, workforce development, and partnerships and synergies between NNCI and the Department of Energy (DOE) Nanoscale Science Research Centers (NSRCs).

NanoEarth’s Site Director Mitsu Murayama, Ph.D. led the NanoEarth site presentation which focused onNanoEarth programs and activities that could be sustained independent of NSF renewal funding. Discussed activities  included the Nanotechnology Entrepreneurship Challenge (NTEC), Nanotechnology Instrumentation Training Program (NanoTrain), guest lectures, and student outreach. Also highlighted were several external projects where seed funding from NanoEarth’s Multicultural and Underserved Nanoscience Initiative (MUNI) had supported the initial work for successful grant proposals for external users.

NanoEarth’s Associate Director for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I&E), Matt Hull, Ph.D. led two sessions. During the pre-conference sessions, he led the Innovation and Entrepreneurship meeting. He had a panel discussion to highlight the Louisville and Lexington Innovation Ecosystem. During the conference, he highlighted the NNCI networks’s I&E activities from the previous year. 

NanoEarth’s Assistant Director Tonya Pruitt led a panel on “For NNCI Research Communities, what worked, what didn’t, and what are suggestions for what a future network might implement to support national priority research topics?” The panel, which had representatives from four of the six NNCI research communities, allowed participants to turn a critical eye on the research community initiative established during the NNCI renewal in 2020.

NanoEarth’s Deputy Director Marc Michel, Ph.D. represented NanoEarth at the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) Infrastructure Leaders Convening. 

NanoEarth staff networked, learned best practices from other NNCI sites, and also enjoyed a tour of the Derby Museum!

Group photo of NNCI Annual Conference Attendees Mitsuhiro Murayama presents about NanoEarth at the NNCI Annual Conference Matthew Hull discusses Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the NNCI Annual Conference Tonya Pruitt leads a panel at the NNCI Annual Conference