Nano.gov Brings the Study of the Smallest Matter to a Wide Audience
Nanotechnology, the study of matter that’s about a million times smaller than the size of an ant, will play a major role in all areas of scientific research, from chemistry to physics and engineering in the 21st century.
The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) serves as the central point of communication, cooperation and collaboration for the Federal government’s engagement in nanotechnology research. And now, its new website, Nano.gov brings this multifaceted topic to life for an audience that includes 25 participating Federal agencies, scientists, researchers, students and industry members.
As the nation’s primary source of information about nanotechnology, the redesigned website includes vital information about the field’s involvement in research, education, manufacturing, ethics and the environment.
OmniStudio worked with NNI to design and build a site that provides information about a complex and world-changing topic to a very diverse audience.
“The NNI has so many audiences and stakeholders, so it was important for us to convey our important information in a way that served them all,” said Marlowe Epstein, communications director at NNI.
The new site offers the visitor an intuitive and rich visual experience, organizing the information in easy-to-navigate areas that address the needs of all visitors. For example, its resources for educators span K-12, museum and community programs, as well as materials for advanced-degree students in nanotechnology.
The new site also features a comprehensive, easy-to-search database for NNI’s many publications, including brochures, workshop and technical reports, as well as online journals, newsletters and websites of related outside resources.
Editors at NNI have total control over the content of the site with the open-source platform Omni built for Nano.gov. NNI staff can upload videos and change the scrolling feature section that highlights current topics boldly on their home page.
Before the redesign, the organization rarely got inquiries from the public. Since the site went live in early 2011, the NNI has seen an increase in traffic to the site, and more people are contacting the organization—from just a few inquiries a month to several each day.
“The new site has greatly increased our ability to interface with the public,” Epstein said. “Now that people can find information more easily, we’re a more accessible organization.”
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