CABOCES | Center for Nanotechnology Education and Utilization

Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES partners with 22 component K-12 school districts to meet the educational needs of all students in the area. Located in southwestern New York State, CABOCES encompasses 2,159 square miles in Cattaraugus, Allegany, Erie, and Wyoming counties. The combined public school enrollment is approximately 17,000 students. BOCES exists to provide cost effective sharing of educational services among local school districts. CABOCES operates 3 Career and Technical education centers in the two county area.

Science teacher Cathleen Woods from the Ellicottville’s CTE center is shown with her students from the morning Medical Assisting class using the scanning electron microscope. They are examining a hair with “split ends” from the Cosmetology class.

Being part of the RAIN network will allow us to share resources and educational opportunities in the field of nanotechnology for all of the students in our region. The regional economy is tremendously diversified. Although agriculture predominates, many small manufacturing firms are located in the area. The goals of the initiative is to provide students with a greater understanding of the importance of nanoscience and engineering in the development of new products and the college/career path to jobs in the nanotechnology field.