National Nanotechnology Day

Event Date

October 09, 2021

National Nanotechnology Day is an annual celebration featuring a series of community-led events and activities on or around October 9 to help raise awareness of nanotechnology, how it is currently used in products that enrich our daily lives, and the challenges and opportunities it holds for the future. This date, 10/9, pays homage to the nanometer scale, 10^–9 meters.

Planning for various events and activities is underway at schools, universities, and various organizations around the country. Whether at home or outside, there are so many ways to explore advances in nanotechnology and how it is impacting our everyday lives!

Here are a few suggested activities that you can try this year:

_{^{Credit: (Left to right): Gabriella Tosado, Women in Chemical Engineering; Daniella Duran, UCLA California Nanosystems Institute; Mary Carmen Reid (UC Berkeley) and Lukas Hackl (UC Berkeley/LBNL)}}

Host image, video, or illustration contests related to nanotechnology.
Organize lab tours and open houses.
Coordinate outreach events with demonstrations about nanotechnology. Check out some resources here.
Create and share an image, video, illustration, or infographic about nanotechnology: what it is, why it is important, and examples of nanotechnology applications.
Host a Science Café or an informal discussion on nanotechnology. If you are a K–12 student or teacher, you could invite a scientist from a local college or university.

Try these fun activities at home:

_{^{Credit: (Left to right): Tirzah Abbott, Northwestern University Atomic and Nanoscale Characterization Experimental Center; Mariel Kolker; Kossi Loic M. Avegno, University of Nebraska-Lincoln}}

100-Billion Nanometer Dash: Run #100BillionNanometers (100 meters) and share your pictures and videos on social media with #NationalNanoDay! Print a Certificate of Achievement and a Gold Medal for you or anyone who runs with you.
Exploring Nano: Even though we can’t see things at the nanoscale with our eyes, there are fun ways to explore the surprising properties of nanomaterials. Check out the following science experiments: Egg Drop, Mystery Sand, Rainbow Film, and Invisible Sunblock. You can do these activities at home using items you can buy at your local store.
Sizing Up Nano: How do objects at the nanoscale compare to bigger things that we see around us? Check out the following science experiments that help understand how small the nanoscale is and the tools that are available to “see” at the nanoscale: Exploring Size - Memory Game (Card Deck), Exploring Size - Powers of Ten Game (Card Deck), Ready, Set, Fizz!, Noodling around: Powers of 10, Mitten Challenge, and Mystery Shapes. You can do these experiments at home using items you can buy at your local store.

So, what are YOU planning for National Nanotechnology Day? Let us know by sending us an email to
nnd@nnco.nano.gov or by sending a Tweet (#NationalNanoDay).

Information about Previous National Nanotechnology Days:

Planned Activities for National Nanotechnology Day 2021

National Nanotechnology Day 2020

National Nanotechnology Day 2019

National Nanotechnology Day 2018

If you have questions about National Nanotechnology Day, please feel free to contact the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office at: nnd@nnco.nano.gov.