Question: what got you interested in nano-materials or being a nano-material researcher? Was it part of your science course in secondary school or did you find out about it in other ways?

Hugh Manning answered on 7 Nov 2018:

Great question! I actually had no idea about nanomaterials when I was in secondary school.
In transition year I was asked if I wanted to go to a physics week in Trinity College and it was there that they were telling us about nanomaterials and how they will have an impact in the future!
That was 11 years ago… today there is lots of information online about nano, and nanomaterials and nanomaterials are actually used in the processors and memory in our phones and computers. We are trying to make information and activities for teachers so that they can tell their students about nanomaterials! We’re making good progress for Junior cert since the course has been recently updated, but the leaving cert course is really old and doesn’t really mention anything about nanomaterials.
If i hadn’t have had a brilliant science teacher who recommended I go on the Transition year physics experience in Trinity college I mightn’t be a nanomaterials researcher today!