Marymount School
Expands
Horizons with Nanotechnology Day
By Sarah Ann Mockbee
In
recognition of Marymount School’s “Nanotechnology Day,” Dr. Susanne Arney of Bell
Laboratories presented the school’s students with an engaging lecture
on the practical benefits of research in nanotechnology, which by definition
is the art of manipulating materials on a very small scale in order to build
microscopic machinery. Marymount, an all-girls, independent K-12 school in
Manhattan is committed to informing its students about cutting-edge technologies
and the opportunities available to those students wishing to pursue a career
in the sciences. Concepcion Alvar, head of the school,
invited Dr. Arney as the keynote speaker among other activities, discussion
forums and assemblies planned for the day.
Although Dr.
Arney’s
presentation required complex scientific terminology, her anecdotes, along
with a power-point presentation, helped the students better understand the
principles behind her work. She also related her research to issues that directly
relate to the students, like the effect nanotechnology has on cell phones,
laptops, medicine and homeland security. Contrary to most anyone’s intuition,
Dr. Arney pointed out that “smaller is stronger.” The sheer compactness
of the materials involved in nanotechnology (nano meaning one-billionth of
a part) allows for sleeker, more durable cell phones, more compact—and
more powerful—laptops and advances in medical technology like the micro-mirrors
used to map the surface of the eye to help improve vision. It can even be used
to place sensors on major bridges to help monitor any unusual movement or activity.
After the lecture, Dr. Arney
joined a small discussion group comprised of 10th, 11th and 12th graders who
are currently enrolled in a biology, chemistry or physics laboratory. After
discussing important safety issues involving laboratory work, Dr. Arney talked
about her experience as a woman scientist in a field predominately comprised
of men. While an undergraduate at M.I.T., Dr. Arney was one of only 200 women
in her class of 1,000, and she is currently working on a field project with
58 men and one woman. She remembers noticing the drastic gap while in college
but insists that her experience has never been one of intimidation or inhibition.
Now she counts the issue as an afterthought and admits that it rarely crosses
her mind.
Dr. Arney, who
speaks five languages and holds 11 U.S. patents, says that her determination
to succeed has been paramount to her success. She stresses the importance
of creating a solid educational foundation, no matter what course one wishes
to pursue. Dr. Arney suggests, “If there’s uncertainty in what you want to
do, at least be sure that you’re building a foundation.” In fact,
Dr. Arney was set on becoming an interpreter for the United Nations when a
math course in high school helped her change her mind. She
insists that a college major is not the ultimate factor in shaping one’s
career. “Everything is a key to another door.”#
