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Molecular Modeling Software
Nanorex Inc., the world’s first
developer of tools for the design, simulation and analysis
of atomically precise molecular machine systems, will
launch its educational outreach program by placing an
early pre-release version of its powerful molecular
modeling software at the fingertips of some of California’s
brightest high school students.
Students who report for the Nanotechnology and Robotics
class at the California State Summer School for Mathematics
and Science (COSMOS) on July 9 at UC Santa Cruz will
begin testing NanoEngineer-1, the first computer aided
design (CAD) program for the nanotech age. Scheduled
for release this fall, NanoEngineer-1’s 3-D, interactive
environment and molecular physics engine will enable
the students to invent and test new kinds of molecular
machines and devices, designed atom by atom exactly
to their specifications.
“This is NanoEngineer-1’s first job in the
‘real world’, and I am very pleased it will
introduce students to the fundamentals of molecular
modeling and molecular dynamics simulations,”
said Nanorex CEO Mark Sims. “Nanorex was founded
on the idea that in addition to teaching young people
the fundamentals of chemical, biological and mechanical
engineering at the nanoscale, this next generation of
nanotech innovators will also need to be able to ‘see’
how nature’s fundamental building blocks can come
together in new ways.
“It is our hope that Nanorex, through educational
partnerships like this one with COSMOS, will help change
the way we all think about nanotechnology by no longer
defining it within the framework of existing applications
and products. I’m eager to see what these bright,
creative kids come up with.”
Two other virtual teachers will join NanoEngineer-1
in the COSMOS classroom. The NanoKids and “nanocar,”
both born in the laboratory of Rice University nanotech
researcher James M. Tour, will take on new life as students
model and animate them. The NanoKids are characters,
based on actual anthropomorphic molecules synthesized
in the laboratory, who help students and teachers visualize
molecular-scale science in a way that is fun and easy
to understand. The world’s first single-molecule
car comes complete with chassis, axles and four buckyball
wheels. In a kind of reverse CAD process, students will
use NanoEngineer-1 to model the nanocar and learn how
to animate it moving across a gold surface, illustrating
the same phenomena demonstrated in Tour’s lab
earlier this year. NanoEngineer-1 will also help students
model and simulate nanomechanical bearings, gears, molecular
machine assemblies and other molecular structures that
can be found in the “Gallery” section of
nanorex.com
“Students have never before been this close to
actually building things atom by atom”, said COSMOS
instructor Miguel F. Aznar, director of education for
the Foresight Nanotech Institute. “Using NanoEngineer-1,
this will be the first time we’ve been able to
give high school students hands-on practice with nanotechnology
structures. It makes nanotechnology tangible, connecting
it to the science they’ve studied.”
Visit www.nanorex.com
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