UAlbany Celebrates Science at STEM and Nanotechnology Family Day

A young boy in glasses and a babseball cap and a young girl in a headband watch as someone out of frame spins a windmill made from Legos.
Hundreds of children and families stopped by UAlbany's ETEC building on Saturday for STEM and Nanotechnology Family Day. (Photos by Scott Freedman)

By Bethany Bump

ALBANY, N.Y. (Nov. 17, 2025) — The University at Albany welcomed hundreds of students and families from throughout the Capital Region to its annual STEM and Nanotechnology Family Day on Saturday for a lively and interactive look at how innovation at the smallest scale is driving big results.

Children and adults had the opportunity to experience the excitement of science with more than 20 hands-on activities, including testing robots, investigating climate science, mixing up non-Newtonian fluids like oobleck, building with Legos, and nano-inspired experiments that explore thin films, light-bending materials and self-cleaning surfaces.

Giveaways and tours of UAlbany’s state-of-the-art ETEC building, including the New York State Mesonet and visually striking Science-on-a-Sphere room, were also provided.

The event was the hallmark of NANOvember, a month-long series of conversations and events at UAlbany that shine a spotlight on the power of nanotechnology and its impact on our world.

Partners in the Family Day celebration include UAlbany’s College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering; College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity; Atmospheric Sciences Research Center; the NYS Mesonet; New York State Master Teachers; NY Creates-Albany NanoTech Complex; corporate partners and student organizations.