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The marquee banner for the Take a Nanooze Break exhibition. Credit: Carl Batt, Cornell

Abstract:
New Epcot Center exhibition brings nano to the masses

Take a Nanooze Break

Arlington, VA | Posted on February 25th, 2010

A new long-term exhibition at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fl., will bring visitors face to face with the nanoworld.

Housed in the Innoventions pavilion at Epcot Center, the exhibition Take a Nanooze Break features a series of interactive, continually updated displays that allow visitors to manipulate models of molecules, study everyday items at the nanoscale, and interact with scientists and engineers who conduct the latest nano research.

"The experience is immersive and gives guests a number of ways to view a world that is too small to see," says Carl Batt of Cornell University, the lead researcher for the project. "It also gives guests a view of nanotechnology from real scientists"

Based upon the National Science Foundation (NSF)-supported children's magazine and Web site Nanooze (www.nanooze.org), the exhibition was developed with further NSF support by collaborators from Cornell University and Tamarack Design of Ithaca, N.Y.

"Nanotechnology will bring multiple, fundamental changes to the way we work to create goods, develop sustainable approaches, advance medicine and improve quality of life," says Mike Roco, senior advisor for nanotechnology at NSF. "About $80 billion worth of products incorporated nanoscale components in the United States in 2010, and one can envision mass use of nanotechnology by 2020. The Nanooze exhibition informs and inspires the public about this fast-arriving future society."

The exhibition opened on Feb. 22, 2010. The work was funded by NSF awards 0725230 and 0937179.

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About National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2010, its budget is about $6.9 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives over 45,000 competitive requests for funding, and makes over 11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards over $400 million in professional and service contracts yearly.

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Contacts:
For nanotechnology multimedia, contact Josh Chamot at

Media Contacts
Joshua A. Chamot, NSF (703) 292-7730
Blaine Friedlander, Cornell (607) 254-8093

Program Contacts
Mihail C. Roco, NSF (703) 292-8301
Shaochen Chen, NSF (703) 292-7557

Katharine J. Covert, NSF
(703) 292-4950

Suhada Jayasuriya, NSF
(703) 292-7014

Principal Investigators
Carl Batt, Cornell
(607) 255-2896