Springer has just published a new book, Models and Modeling: Cognitive Tools for Scientific Enquiry with a chapter by Charles Xie and Amy Pallant. “The Molecular Workbench Software: An Innovative Dynamic Modeling Tool for Nanonscience Education“ demonstrates how dynamic modeling of nanoscale phenomena based on first principles provides a direct approach to making nanoscience more accessible and teachable in the classroom.

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology are critically important fields in the 21st century and as such are requiring changes in secondary science education. Nanoscience education aims at cultivating students’ ability to reason about complex phenomena based on first principles governing the structures, interactions, and dynamics of electrons, atoms, and molecules. But teaching nanoscience and nanotechnology be quite challenging. This chapter presents lessons learned through the research, development, and classroom implementation of educational nanoscience simulations using the Molecular Workbench (MW) modeling software.