By: Kayla Bremer
kbremer@klkntv.com
UNL is looking into the future using nanoscience research. The university has a brand new building to make discoveries in medicine and technology. The state–of–the–art research facility opened this year and is connected to Jorgensen Hall.
The Voelte–Keegan Nanoscience Research Center on the UNL campus is home to researchers who work at the nano level. This type of research allows scientists to work with structures measured in billionths of meters.
"As things get smaller and smaller, we're able to do many new and useful, important things that have sociable benefits," Center Director David Sellmyer said.
The $14 million dollar building has a clean room where scientists are able to make nano or micro scale size devices. The lab provides a high–tech research space that must be kept dust free.
"This size device will be easily destroyed by dust. So we have to control the airborne particles inside the room and this clean room can give us this environment," Jiong Hua said.
Researchers are working to revolutionize products in medicine, energy and electronics using nanotechnology. Sellmyer says the building has provided a space for faculty to all be in one area, rather than spread across campus.
"They're in the same laboratories, they're using the same equipment, they talk to each other and so it's a much more modern way of doing science," Sellmyer said.
The 32,000 square foot center has specialized tools like a $2 million high–resolution electron microscope.
"I think it's fair to say that we do as a whole team, we do great work in Nebraska and we can compare ourselves to every major institution in the world," Christian Binek, an associate professor at UNL said.
A dedication ceremony to celebrate the building's completion will be on Thursday at 11 a.m.
The public is welcome to attend and see the new facility.
