Rob: Well, if nanotechnology is to take off in Oklahoma, the
industry is going to need a new kind of worker, which is what's behind a
new joint educational effort here in our state.
Joining me now in studio, is Sheryl Hale with
Oklahoma's Department of Career and Technology Education.
Well, I've seen figures that said nanotech could be a trillion dollar
industry, just in the matter of a few years.
What type of demand will that put on our workforce?
Sheryl Hale: Well, the estimated demand for the workforce really extends
beyond over 800,000 workers needed, with nanotechnology skills.
Rob: Now, that 800,000 number is a national number.
Here in Oklahoma, what are we doing, trying to meet that demand?
Hale: Well, we are actually, have just launched the Oklahoma
Nanotechnology Education Initiative, which is really designed to develop
a highly skilled technician level workforce to address those emerging
workforce needs as Oklahoma creates the nanotechnology industry.
Rob: Now, these educational programs are going to be delivered on
various levels.
Let's start off with what's going to be going on in the high schools and
the technology centers.
Hale: What we will be doing for our Career and Technology Education
courses will be integrating micro and nanotechnology concepts
into our existing courses such as aviation,
pre-engineering, and manufacturing.
Healthcare, when you look at nanotechnology, it's very much an enabling
technology that cuts across all industry sectors.
So, we're approaching it by integrating these concepts across the
courses that we currently teach.
Rob: And someone will be able to get a higher education degree as we
alluded to in that joint effort.
Tell us about that.
Hale: Absolutely.
What we will be doing with Oklahoma State University, in Okmulgee, is developing
articulation agreements which will allow our students, Career and
Technology Education students, to receive an Associate's Degree in Nano
Scientific Instrumentation.
Rob: And this is all with some help from some federal money?
Hale: Yes. We recently received
a National Science Foundation grant through
the Advanced Technological Education Program
that will really help launch our efforts.